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STORY: GENEVA / REFUGEE RESTRICTIONS
TRT: 01:27
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 24 NOVEMBER 2015, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE – RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations
24 NOVEMBER 2015, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR:
“The negative consequences of these actions are already becoming clear, as people become backed up in countries along the route and without proper solution to their situations. A new humanitarian situation is developing in Europe that needs urgent attention.”
4. Zoom out out, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Edwards, Spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR:
“The new restrictions, as you may know, chiefly involve people being profiled on the basis of their claimed nationalities. At the borders between Greece and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and between FYROM and Serbia, nationals of Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq are being allowed to cross. Nationals of other countries are being stopped – about 1,000 people are stuck at the main entry into FYROM from Greece. With frustrations growing, protests have erupted among some 200 people – mainly Iranians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. Some 60 people are on hunger strike, 11 of them are reported to have stitched up their mouths. About 150 people have been assisted by UNHCR to return voluntarily over the past 48 hours to Athens where they are being advised on what they can do to seek asylum near Edomani, which is the border point.”
6. Close up, journalist
7. Med shot, journalists
The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said today (24 Nov) that following a series of new and uncoordinated restrictions imposed at crossing points, tensions are raising amongst migrants and refugees at the main entry point into the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from Greece.
The agency says that the restrictions have led to people becoming backed up at some borders and that a new humanitarian situation is developing in Europe that needs urgent attention.
The new restrictions chiefly involve people being profiled on the basis of their claimed nationalities.
At the borders between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia, nationals of Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq are being allowed to cross. However, Adrian Edwards, spokesperson for UNHCR, says that nationals of other countries are being stopped, leading to tensions at the borders: “About 1,000 people are stuck at the main entry point into Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia from Greece. With frustrations growing, protests have erupted among some 200 people – mainly Iranians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. Some 60 people are on hunger strike, and 11 individuals are reported to have stitched up their mouths. About 150 people have been assisted by UNHCR to return voluntarily over the past 48 hours to Athens where they are being advised on what they can do to seek asylum near Edomani, which is the border point.”
UNHCR says that it is imperative that the current situation is managed in such a way as to minimize the risks of new problems being created. The agency says that refugees and migrants are expected to continue to arrive in Europe via Greece over the winter and into next year, and that they all have the right to seek asylum, irrespective of their nationality, and to have their individual cases heard.
In addition, UNHCR says that it remains concerned that the measures on the borders into the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia will play into the hands of people smugglers as people seek alternatives to the chaotic situations in which they find themselves.
The agency says that, as we head into winter, stabilization and proper and comprehensive management of Europe's refugee and migrant situation remains urgently needed.
