Mobile  |  About us  |  Photos  |  Videos  |  Subscriptions  |  RSS Feeds  |  Today's Paper  |  Classifieds  |  Contact Us
Advanced Search
The Daily Star
SUNDAY, 19 MAY 2013
02:17 AM Beirut time
Weather    
Beirut
23 °C
Blom Index
BLOM
1,210.6down
Middle East
Follow this story Print Email this RSS Feed ePaper share this
Turkey asks Europe for help with Syrian refugees
Agence France Presse
FILE - Turkish European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis. (AFP PHOTO / ERIC PIERMONT)
FILE - Turkish European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis. (AFP PHOTO / ERIC PIERMONT)
A+ A-

BERLIN: Turkey's Europe minister Monday called on Europe to do more to help his country tackle the more than 100,000 refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, accusing the bloc of being fixated on its debt crisis.

In an interview with German daily Die Welt, Egemen Bagis said: "Europe should start thinking about the people who have fled Syria into Turkey."

"Europe is in a state of paralysis. There is no progress because it is completely fixated on the euro crisis," he added, referring to the three-year financial difficulties that have plunged many eurozone countries into recession.

The Turkish disaster agency AFAD said on Monday that the number of Syrians fleeing the conflict in their homeland and seeking refuge in Turkey has now reached 100,363.

Bagis spoke as EU finance ministers met in Luxembourg to ramp up pressure on Syria and also Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.

In September, the European Commission announced an additional 50 million euros ($65 million) in humanitarian aid to help civilians caught up in the violence.

That brought the total available from the Commission to 119 million euros and the EU's contribution in all to 200 million euros, or half of all international help offered at that point.

But Bagis demanded more, telling Die Welt: "Europe has to help people who need a safe haven. It's time for Europe to finally help out."

The United Nations estimates that more than 2.5 million people have been affected by the fighting. There are more than 348,000 Syrian refugees registered in neighbouring countries, but many more are unregistered.

 
Home Middle East
 
     
 
Syria / Turkey
Advertisement
Around the Web
Comments  

Your feedback is important to us!

We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article.

Disclaimer: Comments submitted by third parties on this site are the sole responsibility of the individual(s) whose content is submitted. The Daily Star accepts no responsibility for the content of comment(s), including, without limitation, any error, omission or inaccuracy therein. Please note that your email address will NOT appear on the site.

comments powered by Disqus
Story Summary
Turkey's Europe minister Monday called on Europe to do more to help his country tackle the more than 100,000 refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, accusing the bloc of being fixated on its debt crisis.

That brought the total available from the Commission to 119 million euros and the EU's contribution in all to 200 million euros, or half of all international help offered at that point.
Related Articles
Turkey has to reboot its Syria strategy
 
 
Eyeing EU, Turkey adopts migration and asylum law
Europe can be saved only by creating a closer community
 
 
Merkel: Euro members must be prepared to cede sovereignty
 
 
EU urges Lebanon to do more for itself on Syria crisis
Show More
Entities
Advertisement
Most Popular
Viewed Searched e-mailed
1. Syria rebels seize Alawite villages in Hama: activists
 
2. Syria's Assad says he won't step down
 
3. Gunmen seize father of Syria's deputy FM
 
4. LF, Future to submit candidacies for June polls
 
5. Saudi woman climbs Everest in first
 
6. Turkey softens opposition to Syria conference: press
Advertisement
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Linked In Follow us on Google+ Subscribe to our Live Feed
Multimedia
Images  
Pictures of the day
A selection of images from around the world- Friday May 17, 2013
View all view all
Advertisement
Rami G. Khouri
Rami G. Khouri
Palestine splits Arab street and state
Michael Young
Michael Young
Washington blunders yet again in Syria
David Ignatius
David Ignatius
Scandal fever hits the Obama administration hard
View all view all
Advertisement
cartoon
 
Click to View Articles
 
 
News
Business
Opinion
Sports
Culture
Technology
Entertainment
Privacy Policy | Anti-Spamming Policy | Disclaimer | Copyright Notice
© 2013 The Daily Star - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Developed By IDS