Don’t turn refugees into scapegoats, Europe told

GENEVA/NAIROBI. — The United Nations Refugee Agency warned yesterday that refugees reaching Europe should not be turned into scapegoats following the Paris attacks that left at least 129 dead. “The overwhelming majority of those coming to Europe are fleeing persecution or the life-threatening effects of conflict and are unable to reach safety in Europe by alternative avenues,” Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR), said in a statement. “Many are fleeing extremism and terrorism from the very people associated with the Paris attacks,” she added.

The refugee agency also expressed concerns regarding reports saying one of the Paris attackers had entered Europe via channels used by refugees, while underlining the importance of upholding the integrity of the asylum system under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Effective reception, registration and screening mechanisms have been encouraged by UNHCR from the beginning, according to Fleming. Relocation programmes which can improve the management and stabilisation of refugee flows on European soil are also supported by the agency. “We are concerned about reactions by some states to end the programmes being put in place, backtracking from commitments made to manage the refugee crisis (i.e. relocation), or proposing the erection of more barriers,” Fleming noted.

She also highlighted the danger of using language demonising refugees as a group, as this will only contribute to xenophobia and fear which may be used to the advantage of extremist groups in the future. — Xinhua.