** EU Resettlement News Digest, 2 May 2013 **
1. Sweden/Refugee resettlement quota: Swedish selection quota for the first time in Uganda – 22 April 2013 2. Austria/ Refugee resettlement in the EU: Experten kritisieren Wiederansiedlungsrate der EU von Flüchtlingen – 19 April 2013 3. The Netherlands/Refugees, who needs them: Vluchtelingen, wat heb je eraan? – 26 April 2013 4. Germany/Humanitarian Admission of Syrian Refugees: UN-Flüchtlingshochkomissar begrübt deutsche Initiative zur Aufnahme syrischer Flüchtlinge - 24 April 2013 5. Norway/Refugee resettlement: Norway’s refugee dilemma – 01 May 2013 6. Japan/Refugee resettlement programme: Japan offers Mae Ra Mo and Mae La Oon refugees resettlement opportunity – 25 April 2013
Twitter: Refugee Action @RefugeeAction John, his four sons & one son's girlfriend are ALL running the #stockholmmarathon for #refugees this June: http://bit.ly/11y1HFs - epic.
Sweden/Refugee resettlement quota: Swedish selection quota for the first time in Uganda
22 April 2013 – Swedish Migration Board
For the first time, a delegation from the Swedish Migration Board has carried out a selection of quota refugees in Uganda. The task was to offer 150 Congolese asylum in Sweden. "Thanks to the Swedish refugee quota, we can contribute to positive development in some of the world's most difficult refugee situations. In 2013, in consultation with the UNHCR, the Migration Board will implement this effort, in addition to many others, to benefit Congolese refugees in Uganda", says Oskar Ekblad, Head of Department at the Migration Board.
500,000 Congolese refugees :
It is estimated that there are half a million Congolese refugees in Central Africa. Approximately one-fifth of these are in Uganda. A long-lasting conflict in the North and South Kivu provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the reason behind this refugee situation. A recurring source of conflict is the relation of various groups to citizens with roots in Rwanda. The past two years have seen more people fleeing from the DRC over the border to Uganda. This increase is expected to continue during 2013 and by the end of the year, an estimated 135,000 Congolese refugees will be in Uganda. Many of them are vulnerable women and children.
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Austria/ Refugee resettlement in the EU: Experten kritisieren Wiederansiedlungsrate der EU von Flüchtlingen
19 April 2013 – Der Standard
Experten haben die Europäische Union aufgrund ihrer vergleichsweisegeringen Wiederansiedlungsrate von Flüchtlingen heftig kritisiert. Während die USA im Jahr 2011 43.000 Personen eine Niederlassung gewährte, habe die EU "nur 4.000 Plätze" bereitgestellt, erklärte Heinz Patzelt, eneralsekretär von Amnesty International Österreich, am Donnerstag bei einer Diskussionsveranstaltung in Wien. Dies sei eine "Schande". MitNiederlassungsmöglichkeiten könne Flüchtlingen die Möglichkeit gegebenwerden, sich in einem anderen Land ein neues Leben aufzubauen und sichvollständig zu integrieren, so der Tenor der Expertenrunde weiter.
Read more...
Watch the entire discussion here.
EU-Infothek: Flüchtlinge: Bitte warten! ORF: Kritik an Flüchtlings-Wiederansiedlungsrate der EU
The Netherlands/Refugees, who needs them: Vluchtelingen, wat heb je eraan?
26 April 2013 – Wereldjournalisten.nl
Op 2 mei gaat de film 'Refugees, Who needs them?’ in première in Wageningen. Stichting voor Vluchteling-Studenten UAF organiseert, in het kader van haar 65-jarig bestaan, in samenwerking met KeyDocs en Ethan Films een filmtour met een bijzonder programma in vijf steden.
In deze film volgt Miles Roston een jaar lang vluchtelingen, die niet alleen tegen de dictatoriale regimes van hun thuislanden strijden, maar tevens geconfronteerd worden met Hollandse bureaucratie, haring, HEMA en een land dat hen liever weer terugstuurt. Vier vluchtverhalen staan centraal in de film: van Ethiopië naar Amsterdam, van Libië naar Amersfoort, van Bhutan naar Venlo en van China naar Urk. Filmmaker Miles Roston is afkomstig uit Amerika en heeft diverse awards gewonnen. Inmiddels is hij zelf immigrant in Nederland.
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Germany/Humanitarian Admission of Syrian Refugees: UN-Flüchtlingshochkomissar begrübt deutsche Initiative zur Aufnahme syrischer Flüchtlinge - 24 April 2013
24 April 2013 – BMI Nachrichten
Bundesinnenminister Dr. Hans-Peter Friedrich sprach mit dem Hochkommissar des UNHCR, António Guterres, über die bevorstehende Aufnahme von 5.000 besonders schutzbedürftigen syrischen Flüchtlingen in Deutschland.
Guterres sagte Dr. Friedrich volle Unterstützung bei der Durchführung des Aufnahmeprogramms zu. Andere EU-Mitgliedstaaten sollten sich ein Beispiel an der deutschen Initiative nehmen und auch Flüchtlingen aus der gebeutelten Krisenregion Schutz gewähren.
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Laudatio von Außenminister Guido Westerwelle bei der Verleihung des Walther-Rathenau- Preises an den VN-Hochkommissar für Flüchtlinge, Antonio Guterres – Read here
Flüchtlingen eine Zukunft zu bieten
Norway/Refugee resettlement: Norway’s refugee dilemma 01 May 2013 – The Nordic Page
700 children who have been legally resident in Norway still live in refugee reception centers. The governement discusses where they should be resettled.
Nigerian Tina Jane and her daughter lived four years after staying at the reception center in Norway temporarily. Then they received their residence permit. After too many years in the reception, the granted permit became a hope for their new life in the country. But their disappointment continued, because the family had to live another eight months in the reception before a municipality agreed to receive them.
It took a very long time. Only now I can live like a normal human being. I can go to a place that I can call mine. I have a home, says Tina Jane to Norwegian daily Aftenposten. She also noted how difficult it was for her little daughter to live like this.
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Japan/Refugee resettlement programme: Japan offers Mae Ra Mo and Mae La Oon refugees resettlement opportunity
25 April 2013 – Karen news
Refugees from the Mae Ra Mo and Mae La Oon refugee camps, in Mae Hong Son District, on the Thai-Burma border, who are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have been given permission to apply for resettlement in Japan.
The UNHCR issued an announcement stating families can apply for resettlement at its office, located at the camps.
Speaking to Karen News, Mae Ra Mo camp deputy chairman Saw Bwe said. “The UNHCR announcement issued in March was for refugees wanting to apply for resettlement to Japan. Currently, there is no limitation on the population on who can apply. We hope to know how applicants will be chosen on April 29.”
Read more…
More refugees get a chance to resettle to Japan.
Disclaimer: the news and views contained in these news digests, which are provided for information purposes only, do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the EU Resettlement network members, nor does it represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information provided herein.
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