The EU mustn’t back off

“No more time should be wasted; the European Union must take its responsibility and its load of reintegrating non-Muslim minorities fled from Iraq; Member States will act only when the decision will have been taken at Community level”. These words were pronounced to SIR by Otmar Oehring , head of the human rights division of Missio, International Catholic Missionary Organization (Germany), who was in Brussels in the past days with a delegation of Iraqi refugee relief workers. They met with the representatives of the European Commission and Parliament. Comece (Commission of the EU’s Bishops Conferences), promoted a conference to discuss the situation of displaced persons, now amounting to 4.4 million, many of whom are Christians. However, refugees include also faithful from other religions minorities. Most of them, (some 1,400) sought refuge in Syria, several hundred thousand are presently in Jordan; while took shelter in Turkey and Lebanon. The appeal and Comece’s letter. Past November, Comece had launched an appeal in favour of these refugees, and at the beginning of January 2008, its President, Msgr. Adrianus van Luyn , rieferring to the EU-Parliament’s Resolution of November 15 2007, had written to Slovenia’s presidency to ask that the issue be put on the agenda of the forthcoming reunion of the European Council and that a detail of Iraqi refugees, some 60 thousand, were granted hospitality in out Continent. “Christians and other non-Christian refugees living in Iraqi neighbouring Countries – remarked Msgr. Van Luyn – cannot return to their homeland”. According to Comece’s President, refugees’ living conditions, although characterized by greater security, are still ‘traumatising’. “In Syria and Jordan they’re still viewed as wafdin, expecting to leave again. In Lebanon they’re illegal, while in Turkey they are merely tolerated. In any case, they are without a permanent residence permit, and have no material security nor perspectives to return to Iraq”. A crime against humanity. The day after the first meeting with the chief secretary of the vice-president of the Migration Commission, Franco Frattini, Mr. Oehring described an “unsatisfying outcome”. “We have all been urged to address our national governments and parliaments, though we are sure that the initiative should start from Brussels. The refugee emergency must be our common concern, to be shared and addressed by the single States”. Obviously, he pointed out, “these people will no longer be able to return to Iraq. However, they are not in the condition of remaining in those Countries where they are at present, since they’re also the object of threats from Iraqi compatriots”.”. “It’s a crime against humanity, and many people just sit and watch”, said Sister Marie-Claude Naddaf, Superior of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Damascus, which gives assistance to approximately 1.500 Christian refugees and refugees from other religions. “European institutions should make a gesture of solidarity”, she claimed. “We offer aid and shelter to families with children- explained Sister Naddaf, who in 2006 was given “The Human Rights Award” by the French Republic – “women and children are the most vulnerable. They are traumatized by the violence they underwent and often have handicaps or diseases. They need human and psychological support.” Approximately 1.400 thousand Iraqi refugees are presently living in Syria. However, this Country didn’t sign Geneva’s 1951 Convention on refugees’ status. A just solution. Sister Naddaf’s relief centre works in partnership with Unhcr (UN High Commissioner for refugees), and also supplies training programs for women. “Several children – the superior said – were received by Syrian schools. But there are many others who are forced to work to help their families, often without a father”. “People with no homeland and with no future”, said Msgr. Francois Yakan , vicar of the Caldeans’ Patriarchate in Turkey, referring to the thousands of Iraqi refugees present in the Country expecting to leave for other recipient Countries. Msgr. Yakan solicited “European institutions to be seriously committed in finding a just and dignified solution to this humanitarian emergency”, which, according to Unhcr, “is the worst in the Middle East since 1948”. “During this period of Lent – the Vicar affirmed – I wish to recall the words of Jesus: if you will have received only one of these little ones you will have received me”. There are currently 40 thousand Iraqi refugees in the EU and the Unhcr launched an appeal to grant asylum to at least 20 thousand more.