UNHCR chief Grandi: ‘While States accuse each other, migrants die’

BY|infomigrants

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees called on the EU to place the migration routes in the Mediterranean at the center of its action.

The European Union must “place security and solidarity at the center of its action in the Mediterranean and along all other migration routes.” This is the appeal made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, on 24 November, on the eve of a meeting of EU interior ministers.

He recalled the need to “act with urgency”.

“Theres been nearly 2,000 people who died or went missing in the Mediterranean only this year. While Member Stataes are busy accusing each other, human lives are lost,” he denouced.

UNHCR favors EU Action Plan for the Central Mediterranean

Furthermore, Grandi said that “improved search and rescue efforts are needed, they must be coordinated better and led by the Member States, ensuring ships to disembark in safe places the migrants they carry while providing them with accelerated screening and asylum procedures to identify those who could need international protection. While sending back — in a dignified and safe way — those who do not need this protection.”

After this preface, the High Commissioner expressed himself on the actions implemented by European institutions.

“It is this spirit that I welcome the proposal of an EU Action Plan for the Central Mediterranean, in view of the extraordinary session of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The Plan guarantees solidarity among the States and the commitment to respect the consolidated legal and moral obligations for rescuing people at sea and for a safe and foreseeable disembarkation of the migrants,” he commented.

Key importance of all sea rescues, including NGO ships

“The urgency of facing the desperate situation in the Mediterranean does not substitute the need for wider reforms for a common asylum system which is both managed better and fairer, as proposed by the EU Pact on migration and asylum. But people cannot afford to wait,” he continued.

“With all these lives at stake, the UNHCR recognizes the vital importance of rescue ships of all players, including those of NGOs. UNHCR will continue to support the States to identify and implement immediate and humane solutions, aligned with international law, to avoid deaths at sea,” he concluded.