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Europe migrant crisis: Charity rejects EU funds over migrant policy Europe migrant crisis: Charity rejects EU funds over migration policy
(about 1 hour later)
The medical aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says it will no longer take funds from the European Union in protest at its migration policy. Medical aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says it will no longer take funds from the European Union in protest at its migration policy.
MSF singled out the EU's deal with Turkey under which Turkey agreed to take back any migrants who crossed the sea to Greece in smugglers' boats.MSF singled out the EU's deal with Turkey under which Turkey agreed to take back any migrants who crossed the sea to Greece in smugglers' boats.
The number of migrants - many from war-torn Syria - to Europe is at its highest level since World War Two.The number of migrants - many from war-torn Syria - to Europe is at its highest level since World War Two.
The charity received $63m (£44m) from the EU and its members last year.The charity received $63m (£44m) from the EU and its members last year.
"MSF announces today that we will no longer take funds from the EU and its Member States in protest at their shameful deterrence policies and their intensification of efforts to push people back from European shores," the group said in a statement."MSF announces today that we will no longer take funds from the EU and its Member States in protest at their shameful deterrence policies and their intensification of efforts to push people back from European shores," the group said in a statement.
Jerome Oberreit, MSF's International Secretary General, told a news conference that the EU-Turkey agreement went against the fundamental principles of providing assistance to people in need. Migrant crisis: Migration to Europe explained in seven charts
Jerome Oberreit, MSF's international secretary general, told a news conference that the EU-Turkey agreement went against the fundamental principles of providing assistance to people in need.
He said the deal did nothing to address the chronic deficiencies of EU policy, but simply outsourced European obligations.He said the deal did nothing to address the chronic deficiencies of EU policy, but simply outsourced European obligations.
"This is really about Europe's refugee shame, " he said. "This is really about Europe's refugee shame," he said.
The group is concerned that the migrant deal may trigger a global domino effect as other countries could also turn their backs on their obligations. Is the deal working?
The EU-Turkey deal came into effect on 20 March.
Migrants arriving in Greece are now expected to be sent back to Turkey if they do not apply for asylum or their claim is rejected.
For every Syrian migrant sent back to Turkey, one Syrian already in Turkey will be resettled in the EU.
A month into the arrangement, EU officials said it had begun to produce results.
"We have seen a sharp reduction of the illegal migration flows," European Council President Donald Tusk said in April.
Opponents of the deal question its legality and argue that Turkey is not a safe place to return people to.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 1,011,700 migrants arrived by sea in 2015, though other agencies put that number much higher.
Most of the migrants take the relatively short journey from Turkey to Greece, though some leave from Libya, hoping to make it to Italy.
'Gelila'
In the latest incident at sea more than 200 migrants were rescued from a sinking ship off the coast of Greece on Thursday.
On board was a pregnant Eritrean woman who gave birth shortly after they were rescued. She named the girl "Gelila" meaning "from the ocean".
The Dutch frigate that conducted the rescue is part of Operation Trident run by European border control agency Frontex.
MSF also has three vessels patrolling the Mediterranean, which it says have rescued 3,349 people in the course of 27 different rescue operations since April.
'Buying your way out'
The charity is concerned that the deal with Turkey may trigger a global domino effect as other countries could also turn their backs on migrants.
"It's clearly sending a message that caring for people forced from their homes is optional, that you can buy your way out," Mr Oberreit said."It's clearly sending a message that caring for people forced from their homes is optional, that you can buy your way out," Mr Oberreit said.
MSF said none of its patients would be affected by this decision, and that in the short term it would cover the shortfall from emergency reserves. MSF said none of its patients would be affected by its decision on funding, and that in the short term it would cover the shortfall from emergency reserves.
The organisation receives 90% of its overall funding from private sources, not governments.The organisation receives 90% of its overall funding from private sources, not governments.
A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.