Malta Declaration on Migration Sparks Fierce Criticism
The E.U.’s Malta Declaration issued at the conclusion of the Valletta Summit on February 3 has sparked an outcry from humanitarian organizations and opposition political parties in Europe over Europe’s plans to partner with Libya in a bid to stem irregular migration on the Central Mediterranean route. The document, which calls for “helping [Libyan] authorities to acquire control over the land and sea borders and to combat transit and smuggling activities,” has been denounced as “delusional” by Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
“Those we rescue on our boats tell us that people still there are starving in detention centers, harassed and abused. The last thing these people need is for the European Union and Italy to join the list of predators,” said MSF in a statement.
Opposition political parties in Germany have criticized the Social Democrat parliamentary leader Thomas Oppermann, who suggested that migrant boats be sent back to Libya.
“It is hardly surprising that asylum-hardliner Thomas Oppermann is calling on the interior ministry to build refugee camps in North Africa,” said Green party co-chair Simone Peter to the Berliner Zeitung newspaper.
2016 Was ‘Deadliest Year’ for Afghan Children
The annual report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has named 2016 as the deadliest year for civilians over a 15-year period, including a sharp spike in the number of casualties among children.
The U.N. mission report said it documented 11,418 civilian casualties from January 2016 to December 2016, a 3.7 percent rise from 2015.
The high level of violence and direct threats to life have prompted the flight of Afghans in recent years. The heightened violence in 2016 has led to increased numbers of Afghan asylum seekers in Europe. But most are considered “returnable” due to the NATO-designated status for Afghanistan as a “post-conflict” country.
Most notably, there was a sharp spike in the number of children maimed and killed over 2016 – 24 percent – compared to the previous year. Many unaccompanied minors attempting to enter Europe are from Afghanistan, but keeping track of their numbers has been challenging.
Interpol stated that about 88,300 unaccompanied children are currently missing, adding that they are at risk of being radicalized by organized groups in lieu of paying back the costs of smuggling them into Europe.
Refugees Entering Canada From the U.S. Amid Extreme Weather
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported that 22 people entered Canada from the U.S. over the past weekend, walking across vast stretches of land in freezing conditions, risking frostbite and worse, according to the Guardian. Most of the arrivals crossed the border near Emerson, about 60 miles (100km) south of Winnipeg.
Panic over Trump’s executive order temporarily banning refugees and migrants may have prompted such drastic measures, according to immigration officials.
The Canada Border Services Agency reported that more than 7,000 refugee applicants entered the country by land in 2016, a 63 percent increase from 2015.
Given the agreement between Canada and the U.S. that prevents Canada from returning asylum seekers to the U.S. without a guarantee of safety, the new arrivals are hoping to apply for asylum there.
Recommended Reads:
- Hindustan Times: A Combination of Aspiration and Desperation is Fuelling Migration in india
- The Guardian: The Plight of People Stuck in Serbia’s ‘New Calais’ Laid Bare
- Politico: Hungary Hardens Migration Line
- The Washington Post: The Refugees Are Here, Whether You Like It or Not
- The New Yorker: Refugees in America