Tensions are rising in The Netherlands over the thousands of refugees due to be given shelter in the country under a European Union scheme.
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Only Syrians, Iraqis and Eritreans are now eligible for resettlement under the European Union relocation programme.
Lesbos is the main gateway for migrants arriving in Europe, especially Syrians fleeing the war in their country.
After months of tensions over the more than 600,000 people who have flooded into Europe this year, Brussels is now taking a tougher stance by focusing on tightening border controls and reducing the incentive for people to come to the continent. “The flow will increase and the number of deaths will rise”, he said.
Antonio Guterres said the relocation program is a starting point but not enough.
14 men and five women – waved and blew kisses as they boarded a financial police plane at Rome’s Ciampino airport as the Red Cross and UN Refugee agency looked on.
Cyprus’ easternmost tip is less than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from war-torn Syria’s coastline.
Another of their countrymen was not so lucky: a 17-year-old was seriously injured after he apparently jumped on a Eurotunnel shuttle from France to Britain.
It will request additional EU funds beyond the 33 million euros ($37.48 million) it has received so far and has asked European partners to send more officials to help register and process refugees.
The former Portuguese prime minister also said addressing the refugee crisis requires a “humane” mechanism which “is based on dialog that is based on persuasion. We are nations of immigrants and we’ve made an important step forward”. “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.
A one-year-old boy has died after a boat carrying migrants to the Greek island of Lesbos from Turkey began sinking during the night, the ministry of shipping stated on Friday.
From there, the journey will take them onto Croatia and, they hope, into the centre of continental Europe.
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Global concern at the influx through Greece has been highlighted by a spate of high profile visits this month including Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, the EU’s migration commissioner, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, European Union president Luxembourg’s interior minister and a group of USA senators.
