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Worsening conditions drive Syrian refugees towards EU: UNHCR

Xinhua, September 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday warned the deteriorating conditions inside Syria and neighboring countries are driving thousands of Syrians to risk everything on perilous journeys to Europe.

"Inside Syria, the last few months have been brutal. Fighting has intensified in almost all governorates, with rocket and mortar attacks on Damascus increasing, rising vehicle explosions in major cities like Lattakia, Aleppo, Homs, Hassakeh and Qamishli, and heavy bombardment in Zabadani and rural Damascus," Melissa Fleming, UNHCR chief spokesperson told a press conference.

She noted amidst the escalating violence, people have lost their livelihoods as well as their homes and unemployment in all sectors is soaring alongside inflation. The value of the currency plummets. The Syrian pound has lost 90 percent of its value over the last four years. More than half the population lives in extreme poverty.

In addition, the Syrians now face increasing challenges to find safety and protection in neighboring countries, which, faced with overwhelming refugee numbers, insufficient international support and security concerns, have taken measures this year to stem the flow of refugees, including restricting access or closer management of borders and introducing onerous and complex requirements for refugees to extend their stay.

For refugees already in neighboring countries, the vast majority of whom live outside of formal camps, hope is also dwindling as they sinker deeper into abject poverty. Recent studies in Jordan and Lebanon, for example, have found a marked increase in refugee vulnerability amidst funding shortfalls for refugee programs.

The majority of refugees in Jordan and Lebanon lack the financial resources to contemplate the costly and dangerous journey to Europe, and with no prospect of being able to return safely to Syria, the situation is leading to an increasing sense of desperation and entrapment.

More than 4 million Syrian refugees registered in countries neighboring Syria, Turkey hosted the biggest number of Syrian refugees of 1.9 million, Lebanon (1.1 million), Jordan (0.6 million) followed behind. Only 12 percent of refugees across the region live in formal refugee camps.

According to UNHCR, the Syria Refugee and Resilience Program for 2015 is currently just 37 percent funded. UNHCR warned many refugees who live in sub-standard shelters will face another winter in exile very soon. Endit