Crete tensions expose migrant challenge

Newly arrived migrants are sheltered successful a municipal hall, successful the town of Agyia, connected the land of Crete, Thursday. [Nicolas Economou/Reuters]

Tensions roseate connected Crete aft clashes betwixt migrants broke retired successful the town of Agyia, highlighting what officials described arsenic information limits being exceeded and superior nationalist wellness risks.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the determination politician of Crete agreed connected Wednesday to found two caller reception facilities connected the island, though their locations stay unresolved and contentious.

At the aforesaid time, UN Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees Ruvendrini Menikdiwela raised concerns astir however governments are utilizing the menace of migrants to fulfill their interests, speaking successful a closed briefing to European journalists.

Nonetheless, for the archetypal time, the UN exile bureau publically accepted the thought of asylum-processing centers extracurricular the European Union, arsenic well arsenic holding facilities for rejected applicants. Menikdiwela besides expressed anticipation Greece would not widen its three-month suspension of asylum requests for arrivals from Libya, acceptable to expire October 9.

The bureau warned of deepening fiscal strains from backing cuts imposed chiefly by the US and Europe. “We are losing astir 4,000 staff and astir one-third of our budget. More than 11 cardinal displaced radical who received assistance past year will not person it this year,” Menikdiwela said. She emphasized that without resources, asylum systems weaken and “people are forced to determination further, including to Europe.”

Menikdiwela defended the asylum system arsenic essential, noting, “The Refugee Convention and different agreements saved millions of lives.” She stressed that astir refugees are hosted successful poorer states, not wealthier countries that often speak of “invasions.”

She acknowledged Europe faces challenges such arsenic asylum backlogs and exploitation of procedures, but insisted it is “crucial to separate refugees from migrants” and guarantee rejected applicants instrumentality home. Properly safeguarded centers and transfers to third countries, she concluded, are ineligible under planetary law.