UNHCR concerned at reports that asylum seekers, including Syrians, denied entry to some EU countries
The UN refugee agency said it was calling, globally as well as in the European Union, for a shift away from border protection to protection of people.
GENEVA, November 15 (UNHCR) - The UN refugee agency said Friday it was "greatly concerned" over reports that some European Union (EU) countries were placing barriers to entry or forcibly returning asylum-seekers, including people who have fled Syria.
"UNHCR is calling, globally as well as in the European Union, for a shift away from border protection to protection of people," UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told journalists in Geneva. "If practices to prevent asylum-seekers from accessing territory and procedures are taking place, UNHCR calls on states to cease them immediately. Push-backs and prevention of entry can put asylum-seekers at further risk and expose them to additional trauma," he added.
In Bulgaria, UNHCR is seeking more information from the authorities on their reported activities at the border with Turkey to stem the flow of refugees into the country. Media reports say Bulgaria turned back 100 migrants at the border over the weekend and deployed some 1,200 police officers to the southern border region.
"Introducing barriers, like fences or other deterrents, may lead people to undertake more dangerous crossings and further place refugees at the mercy of smugglers," noted Edwards.
UNHCR is also concerned over similar reports of asylum-seekers being pushed back from Greece to Turkey. The agency has asked the Greek authorities to investigate the fate of 150 Syrian refugees, including many families with children, who were reported to have been denied entry in Evros on November 12.
Edwards said: "UNHCR received information, from villagers, of the group being detained and transported in police vehicles to an unknown location, although they have not been transferred to a reception centre. Their current whereabouts is unknown to us."
In Cyprus, UNHCR has received reports of Syrians arriving irregularly by boat in the northern part of the country and being returned to Turkey following a brief detention. In the southern part of Cyprus, Syrians are increasingly facing difficulties with reception and assistance, and UNHCR is in discussion with the authorities over this issue. As of end September there had been less than 400 asylum applications in Cyprus this year.
UNHCR is calling for a global moratorium on any return of Syrians to neighbouring countries. This would represent a concrete gesture of solidarity with these countries that currently host more than 2.2 million Syrian refugees. Turkey, which lies geographically in Europe and Asia, is hosting more than 500,000 registered refugees.
Returning Syrian refugees to Turkey or other neighbouring countries only adds to the challenges faced by these governments and local communities to support and provide assistance to refugees. Likewise, EU states with external borders cannot be left to shoulder this influx alone. EU responsibility-sharing needs to be demonstrated by greater intra-EU mobility and openness to genuine burden-sharing outside the existing mechanisms.
UNHCR believes that people found to be in need of international protection should have access to lasting solutions. This could include mechanisms for an equitable distribution of those recognized as refugees or beneficiaries of subsidiary protection within the EU. It could also be evacuation to a designated Evacuation Transit Centre based on existing models from where resettlement efforts could be undertaken both to European countries and non-European countries.
In addition, UNHCR welcomes the discretion exercised by some EU countries not to return all those requesting international protection to their first point of entry in the EU and appeals to others to follow suit, in an effort to demonstrate a measure of solidarity with these EU border countries. UNHCR also calls for the application of all the "Dublin" criteria, including those designed to unite families.
Related news and stories
House repairs restore hope for Ukrainian family after year of turmoil
News Comment: UNHCR notes UK High Court judgement on transfer of asylum-seekers from the UK to Rwanda
UNHCR appeals to UK to uphold its international legal obligations
Insecurity and COVID-19 fuel refugee mental health concerns in Libya
Global evaluation: International COVID-19 response fell short in upholding refugee rights
UNHCR expands operations in Poland to reach refugees from Ukraine amid rising vulnerabilities
Your search for « BULGARIA SYRIA BORDER » matched 302 results. Displaying page 12 of 34 pages.
-
Note on international protection
16 Aug 2017 ... ... those forced to flee across borders and for the countries that ... notably in response to the Syria refugee situation in Egypt, ... In 2016, Bulgaria and Costa Rica adopted dedicated procedures for ...... -
Projected Global Resettlement Needs 2023
Jun 2022 ... RESETTLEMENT NEEDS IN 2023 88 FIELD STORY: SYRIA 90 REFUGEE VOICE: ... Although there were some encouraging signs in 2021, with borders ... 960 Brazil 6 31 2 - 24 - - Bulgaria - - - 21 64 - - Canada ...... -
Statement by Ms. Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, to the 71th session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner's Programme
7 Oct 2020 ... ... or partially closed their borders, with about 90 making no ... By contrast, countries such as Bulgaria, Malaysia and Mexico who ... million refugees, mostly from Syria, a conflict that is now in its ...... -
Statement by the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection
13 Oct 2020 ... ... or partially closed their borders, with about 90 making no ... By contrast, countries such as Bulgaria, Malaysia and Mexico who ... million refugees, mostly from Syria, a conflict that is now in its ...... -
No. 11: Alternatives to Detention of Asylum Seekers and Refugees. Ophelia Field
1 Apr 2006 ... ......... 70 BULGARIA......Early, detailed interviewing of such children at the border, to ... that they could return to Syria, a transit location, did not ...... -
Projected Global Resettlement Needs 2022 (PDF)
Jun 2021 ... ... escalating in North-West Syria, deepening of the humanitarian ... or partially closed their borders, with almost a hundred among ... of asylum* as of 08 Jun 2021 BULGARIA SLOVAKIA SNIA AND ZEGOVINA ...... -
7. The Return of Persons not in Need of International Protection. Annex 6 - Alternatives to Detention of Asylum-Seekers and Refugees
2011 ... ......... 70 BULGARIA......Early, detailed interviewing of such children at the border, to ... that they could return to Syria, a transit location, did not ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2018-2019 - Europe regional summary
Nov 2017 ... the vast majority of whom (3.15 million) originate from Syria. ... to cross borders, they crossed into Iran and then Turkey. There, smugglers promised them an easy journey through Bulgaria but it ...... -
Summary record A/AC.96/SR/750
24 Mar 2023 ... ... Almost 1 million people had crossed the border and 100,000 had ... other regions, such as in Syria, the Sahel, Venezuela and Myanmar. ... Sterk (Bulgaria) said that forced displacement continued to reach ......