UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has urged EU Member States to promptly relocate all asylum-seekers eligible under the EU’s emergency relocation scheme and for it to continue beyond the two years originally planned.
The Syrian musician Zeno Amar and his family were accommodated in the city of Kilkis, Greece, but have now been relocated to Sweden.
© Mr. Petros Damkalis (left), a local carpenter, helps syrian musician Zeno Amar, to create new instruments he and his family use every day. ; In Kilkis, a small city in northern Greece, families uprooted by conflict in Syria have found peace and a place to call home. The families are accommodated in dignified conditions in apartments, managed by Omnes voluntary association. Gradually they become part of the local community that had once welcomed refugees of Greek origin.
Omnes association is implementing the accommodation programme in the town of Kilkis, in collaboration with UNHCR’s partner Iliaktida. Interpreters, social workers and coordinators assist refugees to overcome the challenges of a new home in a new town and become members of this new community. The programme offers legal and medical assistance. At the same time refugees receive cash card assistance in order to cover basic everyday needs.
In Greece, UNHCR has helped more than 34,000 persons through cash card assistance so far.
Furthermore, there are more than 18,700 places created by UNHCR and other partners to provide dignified accommodations to vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees. More than 31,000 people have been assisted through this programme.
Housing and cash card assistance is funded by European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.
“Although the relocation scheme has only partially met what was originally foreseen to be achieved, with 29,144 asylum-seekers relocated so far, it has proven to be of vital importance. It has helped ease the humanitarian situation in Greece, relieved some pressure from Italy, and improved the lives of many seeking protection. We hope this important gesture of solidarity can continue beyond the 26 September deadline,” said Pascale Moreau, Director of UNHCR’s Europe Bureau.
“Until the Dublin reform is adopted and a more permanent model put in place, the need for such responsibility-sharing mechanisms remains acute,” she said. “UNHCR commends the efforts already undertaken by both the European Commission and States. However, solidarity must continue and expand. States should continue to pledge as long as there are eligible candidates,” said Moreau.
Under current conditions, only asylum-seekers of nationalities with an average recognition rate of 75 per cent or higher at the EU level are considered eligible for relocation. UNHCR has previously called for a review of this criteria and for the threshold to be lowered. In a continuation of the scheme, this would allow for more people likely to be in need of international protection to be included.
Swift relocation, including fast registration and transfer of candidates, is particularly crucial for unaccompanied and separated children, who sometimes still are in poor living and security conditions in Greece and Italy.
In September 2015, EU Member States agreed to a two-year plan to relocate 160,000 asylum-seekers in total, including 106,000 from Greece and Italy, to other European countries to ease the pressure on frontline States.
Up to 22 September 2017, 47,905 places were formally pledged by States, with 20,066 asylum-seekers relocated from Greece and 9,078 from Italy. UNHCR will continue providing support for relocation from Greece and Italy.
UNHCR reiterates its call for a robust asylum system that ensures access to territory and efficient asylum procedures and which is capable of properly allocating responsibility for asylum-seekers among EU Member States, also in exceptional circumstances.
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