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| Half of $12bn refugee fund pledged at London meeting not disbursed | Half of $12bn refugee fund pledged at London meeting not disbursed |
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| Nearly half of the $12bn in funds pledged at a conference in London to help Syrian refugees in the Middle East have yet to be allocated, the UN refugees chief has said. | Nearly half of the $12bn in funds pledged at a conference in London to help Syrian refugees in the Middle East have yet to be allocated, the UN refugees chief has said. |
| Filippo Grandi said he was very concerned by the slow pace, and that it was crucial to honour the pledges made at the February conference, which was hosted by David Cameron. | Filippo Grandi said he was very concerned by the slow pace, and that it was crucial to honour the pledges made at the February conference, which was hosted by David Cameron. |
| Grandi was speaking at a UN conference on resettling Syrian refugees on Wednesday, at which the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, called for an exponential increase in global solidarity and an end to the demonisation of refugees. | |
| Referring to the London conference in February, Grandi warned: “More than half the promised funds have not yet been allocated. Rapid disbursement and early allocation are essential to allow humanitarian organisations to scale up operations in Syria and the region, and to stabilise displaced populations.” | Referring to the London conference in February, Grandi warned: “More than half the promised funds have not yet been allocated. Rapid disbursement and early allocation are essential to allow humanitarian organisations to scale up operations in Syria and the region, and to stabilise displaced populations.” |
| Cameron had promised he would chase countries to ensure that pledges made were delivered, and Grandi’s warning will likely disturb Downing Street. | Cameron had promised he would chase countries to ensure that pledges made were delivered, and Grandi’s warning will likely disturb Downing Street. |
| The money was expected to help the 4.7 million refugees in the region by, for instance, increasing their educational and employment opportunities. | The money was expected to help the 4.7 million refugees in the region by, for instance, increasing their educational and employment opportunities. |
| Grandi appealed to countries collectively to agree to resettle 480,000 refugees over the next three years, as a way of providing alternatives to smuggling networks. He said the 480,000 planned resettlements worldwide represented only 10 % of the 4.8 million refugees sheltering in countries surrounding Syria, such as Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. | Grandi appealed to countries collectively to agree to resettle 480,000 refugees over the next three years, as a way of providing alternatives to smuggling networks. He said the 480,000 planned resettlements worldwide represented only 10 % of the 4.8 million refugees sheltering in countries surrounding Syria, such as Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. |
| There was scope for greater resettlement, as Canada had shown, but many EU countries had turned their backs on refugees, he said, adding: “If Europe were to welcome the same percentage of refugees as Lebanon in comparison to its population, it would have to take in 100 million refugees.” | There was scope for greater resettlement, as Canada had shown, but many EU countries had turned their backs on refugees, he said, adding: “If Europe were to welcome the same percentage of refugees as Lebanon in comparison to its population, it would have to take in 100 million refugees.” |
| So far 179,000 places have been pledged worldwide to the UN, but the EU commissioner for migration, Dmitris Avramopolous, said he had recommended member states take 54,000 additional Syrian refugees currently in Turkey. | So far 179,000 places have been pledged worldwide to the UN, but the EU commissioner for migration, Dmitris Avramopolous, said he had recommended member states take 54,000 additional Syrian refugees currently in Turkey. |
| The UK is taking 20,000 refugees from camps over five years, although the Lords has passed an amendment to the immigration bill directing the government to take a further 3,000 unaccompanied children. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, has written to Cameron urging him not to overturn the amendment in the Commons. | The UK is taking 20,000 refugees from camps over five years, although the Lords has passed an amendment to the immigration bill directing the government to take a further 3,000 unaccompanied children. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, has written to Cameron urging him not to overturn the amendment in the Commons. |
| The UNHCR said so far only 12 % of the refugees in need of resettlement have been resettled, and demand vastly outstripped supply. | The UNHCR said so far only 12 % of the refugees in need of resettlement have been resettled, and demand vastly outstripped supply. |
| Grandi also attacked “unscrupulous irresponsible politicians” that he suggested had manipulated public opinion, shifting the focus away from welcoming refugees to the closing of borders. He said: “As a result 50,000 refugees are now left stranded in Greece living in dire conditions. We cannot respond to refugee crises by closing doors and building fences.” | Grandi also attacked “unscrupulous irresponsible politicians” that he suggested had manipulated public opinion, shifting the focus away from welcoming refugees to the closing of borders. He said: “As a result 50,000 refugees are now left stranded in Greece living in dire conditions. We cannot respond to refugee crises by closing doors and building fences.” |
| Grandi said countries had to offer resettlement for refugees, but also look at other safe avenues to help such as offering family resettlement, private sector labour mobility schemes, student visas, scholarships and visas for medical reasons. | Grandi said countries had to offer resettlement for refugees, but also look at other safe avenues to help such as offering family resettlement, private sector labour mobility schemes, student visas, scholarships and visas for medical reasons. |
| He praised Canada, saying, with the help of the UNHCR, the country had within four months screened, selected and prepared 25,0000 Syrian refugees – showing the world how programmes can be implemented quickly so long as the political will and resources are provided. | He praised Canada, saying, with the help of the UNHCR, the country had within four months screened, selected and prepared 25,0000 Syrian refugees – showing the world how programmes can be implemented quickly so long as the political will and resources are provided. |
| But he stressed these avenues should not be seen as a means of a country absolving itself of its international legal commitment to asylum seekers. | But he stressed these avenues should not be seen as a means of a country absolving itself of its international legal commitment to asylum seekers. |
| The conference on Wednesday also heard one of the main routes to Europe from Turkey via the Greek islands was starting to close. The Turkish deputy foreign affairs minister, Ali Naci Koru, described the EU-Turkey deal on refugees as a gamechanger, saying the number travelling to the Greek islands was declining rapidly and such journeys would soon end. | The conference on Wednesday also heard one of the main routes to Europe from Turkey via the Greek islands was starting to close. The Turkish deputy foreign affairs minister, Ali Naci Koru, described the EU-Turkey deal on refugees as a gamechanger, saying the number travelling to the Greek islands was declining rapidly and such journeys would soon end. |
| The numbers had fallen to three digits daily in March. Turkey and the EU struck a deal on 18 March in which “irregular migrants” would be returned to Turkey, and for each forced return, a regular migrant will be taken by EU countries. At the same time Turkey, in return for extra EU cash, said it would do more to take on the smuggler networks. | The numbers had fallen to three digits daily in March. Turkey and the EU struck a deal on 18 March in which “irregular migrants” would be returned to Turkey, and for each forced return, a regular migrant will be taken by EU countries. At the same time Turkey, in return for extra EU cash, said it would do more to take on the smuggler networks. |
| Koru said the number of irregular crossings had fallen from 6,800 daily in October, 2,100 in January and 1,900 in February to 900 in March. “Since our deal has become operational on 20 March there has been a dramatic fall. For the first time daily arrivals reached three digits and on average 400 migrants [a day] reached the Greek islands in the past 10 days,” he said. | Koru said the number of irregular crossings had fallen from 6,800 daily in October, 2,100 in January and 1,900 in February to 900 in March. “Since our deal has become operational on 20 March there has been a dramatic fall. For the first time daily arrivals reached three digits and on average 400 migrants [a day] reached the Greek islands in the past 10 days,” he said. |
| However, figures released by the Greek government on Wednesday showed 766 people reached the islands of Lesbos, Samos, Chios and Kos in the 24 hours until Wednesday morning, suggesting numbers are rising again as weather conditions improve. | However, figures released by the Greek government on Wednesday showed 766 people reached the islands of Lesbos, Samos, Chios and Kos in the 24 hours until Wednesday morning, suggesting numbers are rising again as weather conditions improve. |
| Lebanon’s social affairs minister, Rachid Derbas, said he hoped the developing peace process might allow for the establishment of safe zones for refugees within an internationally protected Syria. | Lebanon’s social affairs minister, Rachid Derbas, said he hoped the developing peace process might allow for the establishment of safe zones for refugees within an internationally protected Syria. |
| He warned his own country was on fragile ground: “If Lebanon itself fails and is crushed by this burden it might itself be a source of concern for the UNHCR and become a site for terrorism.” | He warned his own country was on fragile ground: “If Lebanon itself fails and is crushed by this burden it might itself be a source of concern for the UNHCR and become a site for terrorism.” |
| He added: “Terrorism needs no port of entry or a passport to be presented to border guards. It is like the air and can be pushed like a diabolic wind, striking wherever it pleases.” | He added: “Terrorism needs no port of entry or a passport to be presented to border guards. It is like the air and can be pushed like a diabolic wind, striking wherever it pleases.” |
| Derbas said those concerned by the numbers heading to Europe should recall that a single Lebanese village normally housing 30,000 people has taken 80,000 refugees. Lebanon, a country with a population of 4 million, had taken 2 million refugees, he said. | Derbas said those concerned by the numbers heading to Europe should recall that a single Lebanese village normally housing 30,000 people has taken 80,000 refugees. Lebanon, a country with a population of 4 million, had taken 2 million refugees, he said. |
| The Canadian immigration minister, John McCallum, told the conference how the Trudeau government had come to see the welcoming of 26,000 refugees as a national project and had learned to be clear about the refugees’ plight, holding weekly press conferences to win over public opinion. He said his biggest challenge was to find enough refugees to satisfy the Canadian families that wanted to help. | The Canadian immigration minister, John McCallum, told the conference how the Trudeau government had come to see the welcoming of 26,000 refugees as a national project and had learned to be clear about the refugees’ plight, holding weekly press conferences to win over public opinion. He said his biggest challenge was to find enough refugees to satisfy the Canadian families that wanted to help. |