EU must further support Greece in managing refugees (UNHCR chief)

The European Union (EU) has an obligation to provide Greece with further support in the management of the escalating refugee crisis, the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Monday.

The Portuguese official held talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and visited reception centers on the island of Lesvos and Athens during his official visit.

Guterres praised Greek authorities for the assistance offered to refugees, but acknowledged that no country could deal with such a challenge with its own limited resources.

Approximately 400,000 undocumented refugees and migrants have reached Greek shores -- mainly through Turkey -- from the start of 2015.

"It is a very difficult situation, but we do whatever possible," Tsipras said.

"I am Portuguese so I understand. It is the same in my country," said Guterres, adding the Greek people's solidarity towards refugees was "most impressive."

The problems can be solved, but not through a technocratic approach and not without international cooperation, Guterres said.

"Without humanity, nothing can be done," he underlined, repeating that the current refugee crisis is a "European and an international issue."

Guterres warned that the crisis would continue for a long time as long as the Syrian conflict continues and urged EU member states to look into the relocation of refugees evenly across the continent.
 Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
13/10/15
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