Give refugees a safe alternative to smugglers

Out of the 4.8 million Syrian refugees living in Syria’s neighbouring countries, about 10% are considered to be in most urgent need of resettlement to a third country. Prior to the meeting in Geneva today, the international community has pledged to resettle less than 4%, and less than half of these have actually been resettled to date. Wednesday´s conference in Geneva is a chance to address this sorely inadequate response by the international community.

“With the EU-Turkey deal, European countries show a disappointing willingness to pushing back on refugees´ right to seeking asylum on the continent. If we then also fail to accept a large number of Syrian refugees in need of resettlement, they are likely to see new and more dangerous routes, like going from Libya to Italy or across the Black Sea, as their only option,” said Head of the Norwegian Refugee Council´s Geneva office, James Munn.

“If we want to discourage people in need from embarking on perilous journeys, and being left to the mercy of smugglers, we need to begin by providing them with better alternatives. These should include the resettlement of the most vulnerable refugees, expanded family reunification options, as well as increasing the availability of scholarship and job opportunities for refugees,” said Munn.

“States must recognize refugees as rights holders, and show their strong commitment to fulfilling those rights,” he added.

Only a few countries, like Canada and Germany, have actually offered a substantial number of resettlement places for vulnerable Syrian refugees so far. Among the most vulnerable refugees we find people who have severe medical conditions who require special assistance and those who are at direct risk in the Middle East. More broadly, there are hundreds of thousands of people who are unable to register as refugees or renew their residency visas in Syria’s neighbouring countries, due to stringent restrictions by host governments who again risk finding themselves uprooted and in need of protection.

“World leaders have sealed their borders and built open air prisons in an effort to escape responsibility, instead of living up to their obligations and protecting the rights of the refugees. At the resettlement conference they have an opportunity to start turn this negative trend around,” said Munn.

Countries neighbouring Syria need support to ensure that they can continue keeping their borders open to Syrians fleeing the brutal war in their home country.

”Resettlement of the most vulnerable refugees and financial support to Syria’s neighbouring countries need to go hand in hand to ensure optimal international responsibility sharing. Some of the refugees should be resettled outside the region, but the majority will still stay in Syria’s neighbouring countries, and we need to ensure that the rights of the refugees are respected, independently of where they are living,” said Munn.

”This is not about generosity. It is about taking our fair share of responsibility. Until now, too many countries have failed in this regard. We look forward to States showing that they are, in fact, willing to proactively commit to respecting refugee rights and responding to their needs”