Refugee crisis: latest news from across Europe 10.11.16
Topic
01 November 2016
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Statewatch Viewpoint: In support of the Amnesty International report: Other stories of violence in the hotspot system (pdf): by Alessandra Sciurba:
"When I read the “Hotspots Italy” report, which I knew was due to be published because I was part of one of the groups that was interviewed to produce it, I was speechless because I recognised exactly the same details which I knew so well, which I had not specifically spoken to Amnesty about and which, in general, I had not found the way to make known more widely."
Greece: Tensions on Samos after clashes between residents, migrants (ekathimerini.com, link):
"The tension was palpable in the town of Vathi on the island of Samos on Wednesday, in the aftermath of clashes between migrants and local youths late Tuesday."
Are You Syrious (9.11.16, link):
One step forth, two back: Serbia systematically ignores Human Rights
"For most of the refugees Serbia is meant to be a station, not a new home. But with around 6200 refugees there estimated by UNHCR as of 2. November 2016, the people stuck there are facing more and more problems. This is a consequence of the stricter border controls in Hungary which have been implemented in the beginning of July and left the protection seekers stranded in Serbia, which obviously was not prepared to host that much people. One example: In the end of June UNHCR reported agitatedly, that for the first time since February there have been more than 2000 people. Today the number is three times higher...."
Hungary allowing half as many people the right to apply for asylum in the transit zones
"Volunteers from the Sirius.Help team, who have been actively present on the Serbo-Hungarian border warn about recent changes in numbers and conditions of crossing the Hungarian border from Serbia. Reportedly, from November 2nd, the official Hungary will only allow half as many refugees to apply for asylum in the transit zones at the border. Up until now 105 people a week were able to apply, 15 per day. This number now decreased to 10 a day, and reportedly, from now on they won’t accept applications on weekends, meaning that only 50 people get a chance in a week time...."
GERMANY: 27 years after - more walls?!
"In the heart of the most refugee welcoming country in Europe a wall has been built. Local politicians have expressed anger at a sound barrier built between a new refugee shelter and residential homes in the Munich district of Neuperlach, DW reports. A 100 meters (330 feet) long and four metres high wall made of massive gray rocks and held together by metal wires, it has sparked outrage among the locals and politicians."
Greece: Refugees & migrants set fire in Chios hot spot, protest conditions in Samos (Keep Talking Greece, link);
"For one more time, frustrated refugees and migrants stuck in the hot spots of the islands of Chios and Samos launched protests. In the hot spot Souda on Chios, the protest started Wednesday noon when young camp residents having block the street leading to the camp with garbage bins, which they later set on fire."
What it will take for President Trump to deport millions and build the wall (Washington Post, link):
"If Donald Trump sticks to the immigration pledges that helped drive his presidential election victory, he will begin a clampdown on illegal immigration that would be unprecedented in American history and would require an exorbitantly expensive — and logistically difficult — operation to remove millions from the country while fortifying the border."
And see: Europe's leaders cannot hide their nerves amid Trump congratulations (Guardian, link):
"In Europe, the uncertainty bubbled up beneath the ritual dispatch of congratulations. The German defence minister, Ursula von der Leyen, gave her gut reaction soon after the outcome of the election became clear, admitting her surprise....
the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, framed her congratulations in the conditional, suggesting Berlin would get on with Washington as long as it continued to share core values.
“Germany and America are linked by values such as democracy, freedom, respect for the rule of law and the dignity of men, regardless of origin, skin colour, religion, gender or sexual orientation,” Merkel said. “On the basis of these values, I offer US president-elect Donald Trump our close cooperation.”"
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