Amnesty International: Deadly mistakes in EU-Turkey agreement
The -Large-scale forced returns of refugees from Turkey in the war-ravaged Syria testify deadly mistakes in the agreement on refugees, signed by Turkey and the European Union, earlier this month, points out in a statement, the World today Amnesty.
New research, conducted by the organization in provinces on the southern border of Turkey, shows that Turkish authorities collect and expel Syrian refugees (in groups of about 100 people, including antdon, women and children) in their country, almost on a daily basis by mid-January. Last week, within three days, the researchers Amnesty International received several testimonies about -Large-scale returns from Hatay province, confirming a practice that is common knowledge in the area.
All forced returns to Syria are illegal under Turkish, European and international legislation.
"These new revelations about the fate of Syrian refugees in Turkey confirm what denounce long ago: Turkey is not a safe third country for refugees. Especially the stories of the Syrians who were forced to return to war is shocking and demonstrates why the Greek government should refuse -even at the last moment; the implementation of such a dangerous agreement. We call on the Greek government to refrain principle from classifying Turkey, by legislative or other action as a safe third country and not to allow the refugees eventually return there, "said the statement George Kosmopoulos, director of the Greek Section of Amnesty International.
John Ntalchouizen (John Dalhuisen), Director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia, supports the statement that "in their desperation to seal their borders, EU leaders have deliberately ignored the simplest data: Turkey not it is a safe country for Syrian refugees and is becoming less secure by the day. The EU-Turkey agreement is an agreement which can only be fully implemented in defiance of international law. "
Holding the EU flirtation with Turkey, prior to the agreement, had already devastating and knock-on effects on Turkey's policies towards the Syrian refugees, the statement added.
"Instead of pushing Turkey to improve the protection offered to Syrian refugees, the EU, in effect, provide incentives to the contrary," he said. Ntalchouizen, according to the statement. "It is very likely that Turkey has returned several thousand refugees in Syria in the last seven to nine weeks. If the deal proceed as planned, there is a real danger for many of them that the EU sends back to Turkey to have the same fate, "he said.
Among those who returned are children and pregnant women
From testimonies organization collected, among those who returned are young children and pregnant women, and the recent Amnesty International's research also shows that the Turkish authorities have reduced the returns of Syrian refugees in the provinces of the southern border.
Registration is required for access to basic services. Amnesty International spoke to a family of undocumented Syrian refugees in Hatay province, who chose to remain in their apartment than to try to record, in fear of forced return to Syria.
Currently there are about 200,000 displaced people within 20 km from the border of Turkey. According to groups that provide humanitarian assistance, as well as testimonies of people staying there, the living conditions in the camps near the border are unacceptable, without clean water and sanitation. One witness even mentioned in kidnappings for ransom, describing some of the hazards that exist in the camps.
Tighter restrictions on border
Another negative aspect of the agreement are tighter restrictions on the border. According to Syrian nationals, who spoke to Amnesty International, on both sides of the border, increased security and the lack of normal transit media have pushed people to traffickers hands, which require at least $ 1,000 per person to transport them in Turkey.
The increasingly restrictive border policies constitute a radical change compared with those that had adopted the Turkish authorities during the five years of the Syrian crisis. Before the new restrictions, the people of Syria who had passports could be smoothly cross the border gates, and those who did not follow the legal route-that the vast majority; were also able to record from the Turkish authorities.
"In recent months, Turkey has introduced a visa requirement for Syrians arriving in the country by air, has sealed its border with Syria for all, with the exception of those in need of emergency medical care, and is open and fire on some people tried to cross illegally, "says Mr. Ntalchouizen in the statement. "Now Turkey proclaims the impossibility of completing the creation of a safe zone within Syria. It is clear where all this lead: Having witnessed the creation of a Fortress Europe, we now see a copy of it, construction Turkish fortress, "he adds.
The -Large-scale forced returns of refugees from Turkey in the war-ravaged Syria testify deadly mistakes in the agreement on refugees, signed by Turkey and the European Union, earlier this month, points out in a statement, the World today Amnesty.
New research, conducted by the organization in provinces on the southern border of Turkey, shows that Turkish authorities collect and expel Syrian refugees (in groups of about 100 people, including antdon, women and children) in their country, almost on a daily basis by mid-January. Last week, within three days, the researchers Amnesty International received several testimonies about -Large-scale returns from Hatay province, confirming a practice that is common knowledge in the area.
All forced returns to Syria are illegal under Turkish, European and international legislation.
"These new revelations about the fate of Syrian refugees in Turkey confirm what denounce long ago: Turkey is not a safe third country for refugees. Especially the stories of the Syrians who were forced to return to war is shocking and demonstrates why the Greek government should refuse -even at the last moment; the implementation of such a dangerous agreement. We call on the Greek government to refrain principle from classifying Turkey, by legislative or other action as a safe third country and not to allow the refugees eventually return there, "said the statement George Kosmopoulos, director of the Greek Section of Amnesty International.
John Ntalchouizen (John Dalhuisen), Director of Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia, supports the statement that "in their desperation to seal their borders, EU leaders have deliberately ignored the simplest data: Turkey not it is a safe country for Syrian refugees and is becoming less secure by the day. The EU-Turkey agreement is an agreement which can only be fully implemented in defiance of international law. "
Holding the EU flirtation with Turkey, prior to the agreement, had already devastating and knock-on effects on Turkey's policies towards the Syrian refugees, the statement added.
"Instead of pushing Turkey to improve the protection offered to Syrian refugees, the EU, in effect, provide incentives to the contrary," he said. Ntalchouizen, according to the statement. "It is very likely that Turkey has returned several thousand refugees in Syria in the last seven to nine weeks. If the deal proceed as planned, there is a real danger for many of them that the EU sends back to Turkey to have the same fate, "he said.
Among those who returned are children and pregnant women
From testimonies organization collected, among those who returned are young children and pregnant women, and the recent Amnesty International's research also shows that the Turkish authorities have reduced the returns of Syrian refugees in the provinces of the southern border.
Registration is required for access to basic services. Amnesty International spoke to a family of undocumented Syrian refugees in Hatay province, who chose to remain in their apartment than to try to record, in fear of forced return to Syria.
Currently there are about 200,000 displaced people within 20 km from the border of Turkey. According to groups that provide humanitarian assistance, as well as testimonies of people staying there, the living conditions in the camps near the border are unacceptable, without clean water and sanitation. One witness even mentioned in kidnappings for ransom, describing some of the hazards that exist in the camps.
Tighter restrictions on border
Another negative aspect of the agreement are tighter restrictions on the border. According to Syrian nationals, who spoke to Amnesty International, on both sides of the border, increased security and the lack of normal transit media have pushed people to traffickers hands, which require at least $ 1,000 per person to transport them in Turkey.
The increasingly restrictive border policies constitute a radical change compared with those that had adopted the Turkish authorities during the five years of the Syrian crisis. Before the new restrictions, the people of Syria who had passports could be smoothly cross the border gates, and those who did not follow the legal route-that the vast majority; were also able to record from the Turkish authorities.
"In recent months, Turkey has introduced a visa requirement for Syrians arriving in the country by air, has sealed its border with Syria for all, with the exception of those in need of emergency medical care, and is open and fire on some people tried to cross illegally, "says Mr. Ntalchouizen in the statement. "Now Turkey proclaims the impossibility of completing the creation of a safe zone within Syria. It is clear where all this lead: Having witnessed the creation of a Fortress Europe, we now see a copy of it, construction Turkish fortress, "he adds.
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