California, US (BBN)-International humanitarian organisation, World Vision has requested the minister’s of European union’s interior and justice to provide the safety and well-being of refugee children at its emergency meeting.
The crucial meeting is scheduled to be held in Brussels, the city of Belgium on September 14.
More than 137,000 people crossed the Mediterranean Sea into Europe during the first six months of this year; some 2,000 died attempting the journey, said a press statement of World Vision Bangladesh.
The ‘Balkan Byway’ which is perceived to be less perilous, is fast becoming the alternative route.
Thousands have flooded into Serbia hoping to reach Hungary; a major entry point into the EU.
“The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, signed and ratified by all EU member states, specifically state that everyone has the right to seek asylum and that refugee children in particular, must be awarded special protection,” says Deirdre de Burca, World Vision Brussels Director of Advocacy.
“It is imperative the European Union upholds this promise to protect children fleeing the war in Syria. There must be a unified and humane EU policy on the reception of refugees and asylum seekers.”
“The number of children making these journeys by themselves is hugely concerning to World Vision.
They’ve either been separated from their families or their caregivers have been unable to afford to go with them,” says Conny Lenneberg, World Vision’s Regional Director for the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
“There’s an estimated 8,000 unaccompanied refugee children in Serbia alone right now.
We know from experience they are vulnerable to trafficking, forced labor, prostitution and other forms of violence.
Further, with Serbia’s harsh winter fast approaching, they lack adequate food, clothing and shelter”.
Without immediate action to end the violence in Syria by parties to the conflict, members of the Security Council and those governments with real political, diplomatic and financial leverage, more refugees will continue to flow into Europe.
“The images coming out of Europe are extremely distressing.
There are desperate scenes in refugee host countries bordering Syria too. Since 2011, over four million people have sought refuge in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey.
These places have extended immense hospitality to Syrian refugees not without impact to their own economies and social services,” says Wynn Flaten, World Vision’s Syria Crisis Response Director.
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