UN Refugee Agency concerned over new EU-Turkey refugee policy

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday expressed concern regarding the new refugee policy between the European Union and Turkey, which allows the Greek authorities to return all new arrivals to Turkey.

UNHCR said that the EU-Turkey deal, which became effective on March 20, was being implemented "before the required safeguards are in place in Greece," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general, at a news briefing held Tuesday.

The UN agency said that Greece did not have sufficient capacity on the islands to process asylum claims, nor the proper conditions to accommodate people and examine their cases, Haq added.

According to UNHCR, 934 people have arrived on Lesvos, Greece, since March 20, they were being held at a closed registration and temporary accommodation site in Moria on the east of the island.

Moreover, 880 people who arrived before March 20 were being hosted about a kilometer away at the Kara Tepe center, which is run by the local municipality and remains an open facility.

UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming emphasized that the UN agency was not a party to the EU-Turkey deal, nor will it be involved in returns or detentions.

However, she said the agency will continue to assist the Greek authorities to develop an adequate reception capacity, to carry out protection monitoring and to ensure that refugee and human rights standards are upheld.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) also expressed concern regarding the new refugee policy. It warned that the new agreement could push refugee families to take more dangerous routes including the Mediterranean Sea.

According to UNICEF, 19,000 refugee and migrant children are stranded in Greece. Endit