Over 120,000 refugees and migrants arrive in Greece in first two months of 2016
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday that the failure of European governments to work together was leading to a humanitarian crisis in over-stretched Greece as refugees and migrants continue to arrive in large numbers.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that the number of irregular migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in the first two months of 2016 was approaching 130,000.
According to IOM, some 120,369 arrivals by sea were recorded in Greece up to February 25th, compared to 3,952 in the same period last year.
UNHCR says some 55 per cent of refugees from Syria currently arriving in Greece are women and children.
"With governments not working together despite having already reached agreements in a number of areas, and country after country imposing new border restrictions, inconsistent practices are causing unnecessary suffering and risk being at variance with EU and international law standards," UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards said.
"At least 1,500 had spent the previous night in the open. The crowded conditions are leading to shortages of food, shelter, water and sanitation. Tensions have been building, fuelling violence and playing into the hands of people smugglers," Edwards added.
He continued: "Greece cannot manage this situation alone. It remains absolutely vital therefore that the relocation efforts that Europe agreed to in 2015 are prioritized and implemented. It should concern everyone that despite commitments to relocate 66,400 refugees from Greece, states have so far only pledged 1,539 spaces, and only 325 actual relocations have occurred."
Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR's Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Refugee Crisis in Europe, called for Europe to implement burden-sharing agreements reached last year, saying: "Greece needs a safety valve… it is time for Europe to wake up, either we have a massive orderly relocation from Greece or a repeat of what we saw last year, more chaos and confusion."
Reuters reported yesterday that the EU had responded to the crisis in Greece by launching a new aid program worth an initial €700 million that mirrors the sort of disaster relief it offers developing nations.
European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said: "With this proposal, we will be able to deliver emergency assistance for crises much faster than before, inside the European Union. Right now, there's no doubt that this will be particularly needed to support refugees. No time can be lost in deploying all means possible to prevent humanitarian suffering within our own borders. Today's proposal will make €700 million available to provide help where it is most needed. I now look to European governments and the European Parliament to quickly back the proposal."
The EU's Proposal for a Council Regulation on the provision of emergency support within the Union can be read here.
It states: "The current sudden and massive influx of refugees and migrants into Europe has created an exceptional situation whereby large numbers of persons require urgent humanitarian assistance, going beyond the organisational capacity of the authorities of one or several Union Member States."
"It is therefore appropriate for the Union, acting in a spirit of solidarity, to address the basic needs of disaster-struck people within the Union while minimising the economic impact on the affected Member States facing severe economic difficulties. As such, the provision of emergency support of a humanitarian nature within the Union is proposed to be based on Article 122(1) TFEU."