Concern about the Spread of the Corona Virus Must Not Displace Refugee Drama

IB President Petra Merkel about the situation at the Turkish-Greek border


In Europe, the question of the effects of the corona virus is currently the political focus of attention. Our everyday life is also determined by it. However, the catastrophic situation in Greece and on the Turkish border must not be pushed out of our field of vision.

In view of the humanitarian disaster on the Greek-Turkish border, the Internationaler Bund (IB) demands that human dignity must be preserved. "The right to apply for asylum must not be unilaterally suspended", clarifies IB President Petra Merkel. "Unaccompanied minors in particular need special protection", Merkel continued. "We all have a responsibility here. Germany and Europe must find solutions to ensure their survival". The IB expressly welcomes the initiatives in Germany that are prepared to offer accommodation and protection to children and young people. "Supporters such as the IB are able to help local authorities and the federal states to do this. As early as 2015, the humane accommodation and care of the many refugees would not have been possible without organisations like the IB," the IB President recalls. Access to education, health care and psychosocial support are the necessary foundations for this.

Since 2017, the IB has also been caring for people along the Syrian border who have fled from war and violence. In total, more than 3,000 refugees have been supported by the IB in recent years with educational measures, psychosocial care, employment and child and youth care services.


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