Off the wire
• UN chief lauds Security Council for "unanimous, effective action" to help peace efforts in Colombia  • 2nd LD Writethru: U.S. Fed keeps rates unchanged, signals one rate hike by year-end  • Irregular migration remains Macedonia's main challenge: interior minister  • Oil prices climb on declining U.S. inventories  • S. Sudan prays for lasting peace on International Peace Day  • Spotlight: Highlights of key results, proposals during Chinese premier's visit to UN headquarters  • Greek parliament approves deal for redevelopment of Athens old airport  • U.S. dollar falls against other major currencies  • Spain's Inditex increases profits by 8 pct in first semester  • More arrests made over Kenyan police station attack  
You are here: 　 Home

Majority of French people oppose welcoming refugees: poll

Xinhua, September 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

Most of French people said they were against welcoming refugees as the country is struggling to handle humanitarian crisis and secularity situation in Calais "jungle" where thousands of migrants are still camping, a poll showed on Wednesday.

An Elabe poll for news channel BFMTV said 57 percent of respondents said opposed to take in more refugees while 43 percent were in favor.

According to Yves-Marie Cann, Elabe analyst said the survey mirrored a return to opinions distribution recorded before publication of the drowning toddler Aylan Kurdi's photograph which has changed the French tune.

The pollster also said eight out of ten respondents backed the government's decision to dismantle refugees camp in northern city of Calais, where up to 9,000 refugees are camping in hope to cross to Britain via the Euro tunnel channel, according to humanitarian organizations

France promises to receive 30,000 refugees over the next two years.

In 2015, European leaders agreed on the EU proposal to redistribute 160,000 refugees across European states in order to help struggling Greece to cope with chaotic flows of migrants at its doors.

Escalating wars in Syria and Iraq, adding to persistent political instability in many African countries and in the Middle East, forced millions of people to risk their lives by boarding rickety boats to seek better life on the other Mediterranean rim. Endit