Avoiding forced migration by assisting populations in place of origin remains a priority

Maltese MEP Alfred Sant told the European Parliament that avoiding forced migration by assisting populations in their place of origin remains a priority. Dr Sant’s intervention came when he explained why he voted in favour of a Report which recommends the draft amending budget aimed at mobilising €500 million in order to finance the largest part of the 2018 budget dedicated to the Facility for Refugees in Turkey. This funding will be mainly dedicated to the education of Syrian refugee school children in Turkey.
The Maltese MEP said the mobilised sum of EUR 500 million is necessary to allow for the continuation of the schooling of refugee children in Turkey. Knowing how easily Turkey’s refugee situation could spill over to the EU, any assistance on the matter should be given priority.
“The Facility for Refugees in Turkey is the EU answer to support refugees in an immediate country of transit. This funding is also crucial for any hope of success with present EU asylum policy. Providing the necessary funding to provide the basic needs and opportunities for refugees in Turkey, especially refugee children, is essential. The Turkey model with its achievements could provide the right direction where this is not possible.”
The main focus areas are humanitarian assistance, education, migration management, health, municipal infrastructure, and socio-economic support. According to the United Nations, Turkey currently hosts over 3.5 million registered Syrian refugees and is making commendable efforts to provide them with humanitarian aid and support.
The report was adopted with 548 votes in favour, 70 against and 61 abstentions.

Maltese Version – “BIEX NEVITAW IMMIGRAZZJONI SFURZATA MEĦTIEGA GĦAJNUNA LIL POPOLAZZJONIJIET F’ART TWELIDHOM”

Il-Kap tad-delegazzjoni Maltija Laburista tal-Parlament Ewropew Dr Alfred Sant qal li hija prijorita` l-assistenza lil popolazzjonijiet f’art twelidhom biex tkun evitata l-immigrazzjoni sfurzata. Fl-intervent tiegħu fil-Parlament Ewropew Dr Sant spjega għaliex ivvota favur Rapport li rrakkomanda abbozz dwar l-emendi tal-budget bl-għan li jkunu mobilizzati €500 miljun għal finanzjament tal-akbar parti tal-budget tal-2018 iddedikata lil Faċilita` tar-Refuġjati fit-Turkija. Dan il-finanzjament se jkun iddedikat l-aktar għall-edukazzjoni ta’ tfal Sirjani refuġjati fit-Turkija.
L-Ewroparlamentari qal li s-somma ta’ €500 miljun Ewro hija meħtieġa biex titkompla l-edukazzjoni tat-tfal refuġjati fit-Turkija. Peress li nafu kemm faċilment is-sitwazzjoni tar-refuġjati fit-Turkija tista’ tispiċċa f’ħoġor l-UE, kull assistenza f’dan ir-rigward għandha tingħata prijorita`.
“Il-Faċilita` tar-Refuġjati fit-Turkija hija t-tweġiba tal-UE biex tagħti appoġġ lir-refuġjati f’pajjiż ta’ transitu. Dan il-finanzjament huwa wkoll kruċjali għal kull tama ta’ suċċess li jista’ jkollha l-politika tal-ażil tal-UE. Il-provvediment tal-finanzjament meħtieġ biex jiġu pprovduti l-ħtiġijiet u l-opportunitajiet bażiċi għar-refuġjati fit-Turkija, speċjalment lit-tfal refuġjati, huwa essenzjali. Il-mudell tat-Turkija bil-kisbiet tiegħu jista’ jipprovdi direzzjoni tajba fejn dan ma jkunx possibbli. ”
L-oqsma ewlenin huma l-assistenza umanitarja, l-edukazzjoni, il-ġestjoni tal-immigrazzjoni, is-saħħa, l-infrastruttura muniċipali u l-appoġġ soċjoekonomiku. Skond il-Ġnus Magħquda, it-Turkija attwalment tospita aktar minn 3.5 miljun refuġjat Sirjan reġistrat u ta’ min ifaħħarha għall-isforzi li qed twettaq biex tipprovdilhom appoġġ u għajnuna umanitarja.

Ir-rapport għadda b’548 voti favur, 70 kontra u 61 astenzjoni.