Three years after the EU-Turkey statement the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) calls for European countries to take their share of responsibility for handling refugees, and not leave it to overstretched Turkey and Greece.

A new survey by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reveals that seven out of ten refugees from Ukraine living in Poland, Romania and Moldova say the income and support they are receiving is not enough to cover their basic needs and are at risk of falling into poverty.

“One year after the death of Aylan Kurdi the haemorrhage of human lives on the doorstep to Europe has worsened,” warned the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland.

A 12-year-old girl and her Syrian family were the first group to arrive in Italy. She was gravely ill, and soon after arriving she underwent critical brain surgery to save her life.

Since snow swept through northern Greece earlier this month, the Norwegian Refugee Council has rushed to move refugee families and children into unoccupied hotels from unsuitable camps and settlements.

The uncertainty grinds people down, as refugees and migrants stranded in Greece are waiting to know whether they will get protection in Europe. ”There is no news, no decision, no solution. Where is the humanity?” asks Mustafa.

Over 20 civil society organisations are urgently calling on Italy, Malta, other European states and the European Commission to facilitate the immediate disembarkation of all survivors onboard the rescue vessels Geo Barents, Humanity 1, Rise Above and Ocean Viking in the Central Mediterranean. Some of the survivors were taken on board more than 17 days ago and need to reach land where they can access safety, medical care and protection.

Statement by the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Secretary General, Jan Egeland:

Statement by Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) following this morning’s multiple air strikes in Ukraine:

Turkey recently announced that they will no longer be preventing refugees and migrants from crossing the border into Europe. Since then, tens of thousands of refugees and migrants have arrived at the border area between Turkey and mainland Greece, according to the UN. Greek authorities have responded by announcing that they will not allow people to seek asylum and will be sending people back to Turkey. The Greek police are reportedly using tear gas to stop people from getting into the country.