UN / SYRIA

On his last address to the Security Council as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres said European restrictive measures on refugees are like a “virus that risks contaminating other parts of the world.” UNIFEED-UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:17
• Production Date: 21 December 2015
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: ANTONIO GUTERRES; KANG KYUNG-WHA
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: CONFLICT SITUATION; REFUGEES
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 1536626
• Parent Id: 1536626
• Alternate Title: unifeed151221b

Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA
TRT: 02:17
SOURCE: UNIFEED-UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 21 DECEMBER 2015, UNITED NATIONS / RECENT

Shotlist

RECENT, NEW YORK CITY, USA

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

21 DECEMBER 2015, UNITED NATIONS

2. Wide shot, Security Council session in progress
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Kyung-wha Kang, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator:
“May I retaliate the call by the Secretary-General to the ISSG (International Syria Support Group) while welcoming the Council Resolution to ply the necessary pressure on the Syrian parties, to immediately implement the following confidence building measures: to stop the use of indiscriminate weapons against civilians including barrel bombs; to allow unconditional and impeded access to convoys; to halt attacks on medical and educational facilities and to lift all restrictions on medical and surgical supplies from humanitarian convoys; and to release all detainees. It is our earnest hope that this Council in support of the ISSG has started to pave the way to peace in Syria.”
4. Med shot, Security Council in progress
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
“Nearly one million people have arrived by boat to Europe this year, more than 50 percent Syrians. UNHCR just published a survey with over 1200 of them, and the findings confirmed something that have long suspected. Syria is experiencing a massive brain drain. 86 percent of those we interviewed have a secondary education. And almost half have gone to University. One can only imagine the disastrous consequences of such an exodus on the future post-conflict reconstruction of Syria.”
6. Med shot, Security Council in progress
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
“Because of things continue as they are right now, I fear not only for the lives of refugees but for the future of European asylum as restrictive measures are already spreading all around like a virus that also risks contaminating other parts of the world.”
8. Med shot, Security Council in progress
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees:
“The fact that so many Syrians arriving in Europe are now coming straight from Syria, demonstrates that the violence and human rights abuses inside the country are only getting worse and that the true solution for the humanitarian tragedy must be found inside Syria.”
10. Zoom out, closing Security Council session

Storyline

On his last address to the Security Council as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres said today (21 Dec) European restrictive measures on refugees are like a “virus that risks contaminating other parts of the world.”

Both Guterres and the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Kyung-wha Kang addressed Member States, during a special session on the escalating humanitarian situation in Syria.

Reiterating the call of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, following last week’s Resolution focusing on the politics of ending Syria’s five-year-long war, Kang said all parties involved in the conflict should “immediately implement the following confidence building measures: to stop the use of indiscriminate weapons against civilians including barrel bombs; to allow unconditional and impeded access to convoys; to halt attacks on medical and educational facilities and to lift all restrictions on medical and surgical supplies from humanitarian convoys; and to release all detainees.”

Meanwhile, Guterres who is stepping down as the head of the UN refugee agency, told Member States that a recent survey conducted by UNHCR revealed “nearly one million people have arrived by boat to Europe this year, more than 50 percent Syrians,” and that Syria is “experiencing a massive brain drain” as half of those fleeing the embattled country have a University-level qualification.

“One can only imagine the disastrous consequences of such an exodus on the future post-conflict reconstruction of Syria,” Guterres said.

He also criticised Europe’s restrictive measures on asylum seekers, comparing them to a “virus that also risks contaminating other parts of the world.”

Guterres also said, “the fact that so many Syrians arriving in Europe are now coming straight from Syria, demonstrates that the violence and human rights abuses inside the country are only getting worse and that the true solution for the humanitarian tragedy must be found inside Syria.”

On Friday (18 Dec) the Security Council gave the United Nations an enhanced role in shepherding the opposing sides to talks for a political transition, with a timetable for a ceasefire, a new constitution and elections, all under UN auspices.