AYS Daily Digest 13/06/2018 EU’s disturbing priorities
Updates from SAR operations /// Demonstration launched in Paris /// New evictions in Calais /// 2 of the Moria35 deported to Turkey /// Updates from Bihac and Sarajevo /// Education projects in Sofia
FEATURE - EU’s disturbing priorities: Border Defence Budget
For the next long-term EU budget 2021–2027, the Commission proposes to almost triple funding for migration and border management to €34.9 billion, as compared to €13 billion in the previous period.
The European Border and Coast Guard Agency will be further strengthened with a new standing corps of around 10,000 border guards.
A 51% increase is proposed for the budget for migration policy from the current €6.9 billion to €10.4 billion, compared to a 241% increase proposed for border management funding under the new Integrated Border Management Fund (IBMF) from the current €2.7 billion (2014–2020) to €9.3 billion.
The budget appears to be geared towards fortifying the EU’s external borders and curbing migration as well as making it easier and faster to expel unsuccessful asylum seekers from the EU. The budget will offer support to all member states by providing extra funding to member states facing high migratory pressure, including Greece and Italy.
For a full breakdown of proposed budgets and activities please visit the EU commission website.
At a moment when several EU authorities are condemning the actions of the Italian government as inhumane and criminal, it is important to remember that the EU is complicit and supportive of aggressive border policies which will only continue to militarise border zones but will also endanger life by trapping people in unstable countries with dubious human rights records.
SEA
Updates from Aquarius
After the decision of the Italian Interior Minister, far-righter Matteo Salvini, to close Italian ports to the Aquarius, the vessel is currently on its way towards Valencia, Spain.
On board are 51 Women, 41 men and 10 children. The rest of the 629 rescued were transferred on Tuesday to two vessels belonging to the Italian Navy and Coast Guard, that will follow the Aquarius to Spain. Their ETA is Saturday evening, but that depends on the weather conditions, which worsened throughout the night, with waves up to 4 metres & winds up to 35 knots.
During the day the Aquarius received rather inadequate food supplies:
Italy has been toying with the lives of 629 people by denying them disembarkation at the closest safe port.
This should not be a precedent, and cannot be considered a victory.
937 people arrived in Catania
People rescued from Italian coast guard vessel Diciotti arrived Wednesday in Catania. As the boat is part of the Italian fleet, it was impossible for the new far-right minister Salvini to deny access to the port. Two dead bodies were disembarked as well.
41 rescued waiting for a port to be assigned [Updated]
At the time of writing 41 people and 12 dead bodies rescued by an US navy ship are still waiting to be assigned a safe port to disembark.
[Update] Media report that the USNS Trenton, the Navy ship involved in the rescue, had to jettison the 12 dead bodies, as the vessel has no storage facilities. MRCC in Rome is still denying access to any Italian port, refusing to take responsibility for the rescue operation.
SAR updates from Western Mediterranean
66 people were disembarked safely in Algeciras on Wednesday, while another 22 were being rescued off the coast of Tarifa.
3 years of rescue operations for Sea Watch
What was lost entirely in the rush of yesterday’s events:
Three years and one day ago, Sea-Watch reached Lampedusa to start its very first mission.
[…] We never thought that three years later, instead of exchanging stories about the old days of missions in the Mediterranean, we would still have to be here. And now with a political public sphere that leaves the people in need and isolates us or even tries to make our work more difficult by making us a pawn in the power struggles of governments.
From day one we were convinced that every human life is priceless and protection of life is a duty for each and every one of us. We still are.
Help us move on: https://sea-watch.org/spenden/
Read the full statement here.
Donation needed for Sea-Eye new Lifeboat
From Sea Eye:
#donationsSprint for “ Charlotti 4 ‘.
in the 6th mission of Sea-Eye in 2018, the lifeboat (RIB) ‘Charlotti 3’ was badly damaged.
Today we ask you to donate for a very specific thing. We want to launch ‘Charlotti 4’. The more determined you act and donate, the better our SEEFUCHS can be supplemented by a strong lifeboat. Please act now, donate and find out why our lifeboats are named CHARLOTTI.
TURKEY
UNHCR has published the numbers of registered refuges and asylum seekers in Turkey.
The Turkish coast guard reports that they picked up one boat outside Altinova at 3:32 a.m., on its way towards east Lesvos carrying 43 people and another outside Kadirga Burnu, Ayvacik distrikt, at 5:30 a.m., on its way towards north Lesvos also carrying 43 people including one Turkish national.
GREECE
Arrivals
Aegean Boat Report informs us that one more boat landed on Tuesday on Kastellorizo island. The number of people is approximately 24, but this has not been confirmed.
Samos
According to the latest data published on Samos, 143 people have arrived in the last week—mainly from Cameroon (36%), Iraq (15%) and Palestine (13%). Last year there were no arrivals in this time period. There are currently approximately 2435 people on the move who are being held on Samos, mainly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. 22% of the people are women and 29% are children.
The petition to free Amir Hampay, who is the brother of Arash Hampay—an activist and AYS contributor—is ongoing. Two years in prison-like conditions is too long, one day is too long, give him his freedom and let him join his brother! Please act now!
Athens
Refugee.info has published details for the times the Athens Regional Asylum office is open this Sunday to issue the residence permits and travel documents which are ready.
Athens Refugee Food Festival
The event will be held from June 19th to June 24th:
Local restaurants in Athens open their kitchens to refugee chefs for a unique culinary experience. Through set menus or carte blanche, the guest chefs will prepare their best culinary creations from their country of origin. Discover a wide range of different global cuisines!
Northern Greece needs more volunteers
Drop in the Ocean is calling for more people to join them at the Nea Kavala camp as they try to accommodate new arrivals. 7200 people have crossed the Evros river border this year (January–May 2018). The Nea Kavala camp has about 630 registered residents while over 200 people live in a nearby village and come to the camp for food and other necessary items. Many refugees from other camps in the area are also coming to escape the poor living conditions. As a result, four large tents have been set up to house 70 people each, these tents all have a shared toilet, showers and the possibility of cooking.
Refucomm has also reported on the situation and state that the new arrivals came primarily from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan and included many families with children.
Faced with the unexpected influx, the overwhelmed police held hundreds in substandard police facilities until the people could be moved to the Fylakio RIC for the obligatory registration and identification. People in need of protection must be able to undergo reception procedures, receive information and be ensured access to the asylum at the Fylakio RIC, a closed facility with a capacity of 240, with unaccompanied children accounting for almost half. The RIC struggles to conduct the procedures in a timely manner because it lacks core services such as interpretation, medical and pyscho-social assistance.
BULGARIA
Refugee.info have published information on the new pre-school programme in Sofia.
Apply now: Educational program for preschool-aged children in Sofia — Scroll down for English -> https://goo.gl/6eBQq1
Help your child prepare and integrate into Bulgarian kindergartens and schools through music and arts. Learn more about how to apply and what is expected of you here -> https://goo.gl/dAV4kg
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Updates from Bihać
600 people are currently being fed by the Red Cross of the city of Bihać
Police in Sarajevo are continuing to remove people from parks. Asked by citizens and volunteers why, they still have not offered a clear answer. From a conversation with the head of police, AYS volunteers were told that he considers that the people who are in parks are violating public law and order, that they are making the parks look dirty and messy. None of this is true or in compliance with the existing laws. Several hundreds of people are currently sleeping on the streets, including families, due to lack of accommodation in Bosnia. Food and help is provided by volunteers and the local population, while the state and big NGOs are ignoring their obligations. Over 6,200 people have come to Bosnia from January. UNHCR does not consider this situation an emergency and is still not providing adequate support.
FRANCE
Police brutality during Calais evictions
After three forced evictions in Calais on Tuesday, a further three took place at other locations on Wednesday. Another 200+ people have been left without shelter, and their belongings have been confiscated.
One volunteer, acting as a legal observer, was physically assaulted, as a CRS officer grabbed her by the throat from behind and threw her to the ground, and another, moments later threw her phone to the ground and kicked it.
Here is a video of the attack.
Open the Ports!
A peaceful demonstration will be held at Place Garibaldi in Nice at 6 p.m. on Friday 15 June, to support the Aquarius and all the NGOs involved in sea rescue over the past years, who have saved thousands of lives. As well as solidarity with the rescue efforts, the plan is to protest the political decisions which have resulted in sending the ship to Valencia even though French ports are closer.
SWEDEN
FARR has produced a questions and answers sheet to help young people understand how the new law for high school students will affect them. From 1 July, young people who initially applied for asylum no later than 24 November 2015 can be considered for temporary residence, in order to complete high school.
We strive to echo correct news from the ground through collaboration and fairness.
Every effort has been made to credit organizations and individuals with regard to the supply of information, video, and photo material (in cases where the source wanted to be accredited). Please notify us regarding corrections.
If there’s anything you want to share or comment, contact us through Facebook or write to: areyousyrious@gmail.com
