Those centers are important for relocating and distributing asylum-seekers in other European countries, Asselbon said. The high commissioner said he hopes to build on this asylum program during a two-and-a-half-day mission to Greece. More than 500,000 people have arrived in the European Union this year, seeking sanctuary or jobs and sparking the EU’s biggest refugee emergency in decades. Lesbos – the third-largest Greek island and home to almost 90,000 people – has been overwhelmed with migrants from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq trying to reach Europe.
Advertisement
The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution to authorize the European Union and individual countries to seize migrant-smuggling vessels on the high seas off Libya. “There is a great need for measures to be put in place to allow (asylum-seekers) to arrive in Europe safely”, she said, referring to perilous boat crossings in the Mediterranean. At the same time, he noted this is a disgusting experience for those arriving.
A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to disclose details of the rescue, said the 13 are believed to be Syrian and Lebanese nationals.
Alfano said Italy was ready to send 100 more asylum seekers to Germany and the Netherlands, and UNHCR said further relocations would take place at the beginning of next week. He said conference participants recognize this is creating opportunities for aid agencies to address the plight of refugees as never before.
The coastguard has rescued a total of 542 migrants and refugees off the Aegean islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Farmakonisi and Agathonisi since early on Thursday. Although a short sea journey, it can be fatal as the unseaworthy and overloaded boats sometimes sink.
And the head of the UN’s refugee agency warned of a humanitarian disaster this winter unless Greece was given much more help to house the new arrivals.
In the Lesbos incident, the coast guard rescued 56 people from the sea Thursday night after the rear part of their dinghy burst, partially sinking the boat.
Advertisement
He was found unconscious by a coast guard patrol boat, and medics were unable to revive him.
