A large number of Syrian refugees cannot seek protection in Europe, and most of them continue to languish in deplorable conditions in the countries bordering with Syria. In poorly equipped refugee camps, they suffer from a lack of basic needs, including limited access to food and medical care. There are safe and legal ways in which refugees could be able to get out of the region, but complicated visa restrictions and inflexible administrative procedures for family reunification prevents them from getting refugee status. European states have allocated entirely insufficient number of places to stay humanitarian refugees and their resettlement.
In Europe, so far, only 3% of refugees have found protection.
Why should the Czech Republic help?
Given the scale of the humanitarian disaster, we have to change our attitudes and provide safe haven to Syrian refugees. Of the approximately 2.4 million refugees, half are women. There is an urgent need for support for the Syrian refugees to be provided by all the EU nations, including the Czech Republic. Amnesty International and the Organization for Aid to Refugees therefore forward the Europe-wide petition call to Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka of the Czech Republic to provide shelter for at least 1,000 of the vulnerable Syrian refugees.
How can the Czech Republic help?
The Czech Republic can make a gesture of solidarity and take a thousand refugees. This requirement is bearable, because only a few hundred asylum seekers enter the Czech Republic each year, but the country has the necessary facilities for the reception of these refugees. In comparison, Bulgaria is much less well equipped than the Czech Republic, but is currently hosting several thousand Syrian refugees in entirely unsatisfactory conditions.
Tato petice je již ukončena.
Celé znění on-line petice, kterou posíláme adresátům.
Give refugees a safe way into Europe
Protect refugees arriving at European borders
Reunite families torn apart by the crisis
We, the people of Europe, are calling on European leaders to take steps without delay to protect Syrian refugees. It is necessary to agree on the following three events:
1. Give refugees safe passage to Europe
There are practical ways for refugees to safely travel to Europe. However, those who are trying to flee Syria are risking their lives in the hands of smugglers and facing hardships on the dangerous journey.
European leaders must ensure Syrian refugees easier access to European countries. Visa restrictions must be temporarily lifted to allow refugees to obtain entry visas. In addition, there must be a significant increase in jobs for resettled refugees. Embassies in the region need to offer other forms of humanitarian entry and acceptance into the EU .
2. Protect refugees on Europe’s borders
Even after refugees have reached Europe, they remain seriously threatened. Many of them risked death to travel to Europe, and yet they are often involuntarily returned to Syria.
European leaders must put an end to sending refugees back after they arrive in Europe. They must also ensure that those in need receive assistance. The people who survive the hardships of a trip to Europe deserve humane treatment and protection.
3. Allow families divided by the conflict to come back together.
The war has destroyed many Syrian families, and their separation is often long-term. Some refugees have European relatives, yet they cannot move to Europe to live with these family members and escape the crisis. This can be fixed by simplifying the complex visa and administrative procedures.
European leaders must help divided families to be reunited with their loved ones in Europe. Family members should not become victims of protracted and complicated administrative procedures.
Thank you for your attention to these serious concerns.
Sincerely,
