EU committed to preventing loss of life, providing safe pathways

The journeys of refugees are often full of hardship and danger, with thousands risking their lives across deserts and seas in the hope of a better future, the European Commission said on Tuesday.

“The European Union (EU) is committed to work on comprehensive action to prevent the loss of life and provide orderly and safe pathways,” said a joint statement by the European Commission and the High Representative marking the World Refugee Day.

“The European Commission is working with EU member states and international partners on resettlement and complementary pathways that can help scale-up admission places, from priority regions,” said the statement.

The EU resettlement and humanitarian admission scheme was launched by the European Commission on 10 May 2023, kicking off the new pledging exercise for 2024-2025.

The EU welcomes the upcoming Global Refugee Forum in December 2023 as an important opportunity to better share global responsibility. “To be truly effective we must all step up our efforts and work in partnership to address the multiple complex challenges created by forced displacement,” the statement said.

“Today, more than 110 million people are forcibly displaced around the world. On the occasion of World Refugee Day, we reiterate the EU’s commitment to continue being a leading humanitarian and development donor and to step up our efforts to ensure that the EU remains a place where refugees find protection and safety,” said the High Representative.

Globally, the EU is working to help improve the situation of millions of refugees and forcibly displaced persons caught up in conflicts or major humanitarian crises such as those in Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Myanmar, Yemen, South Sudan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burkina Faso.

“We deliver life-saving aid including food, shelter, education, health care, as well as livelihood support,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the Australian High Commission in Dhaka tweeted saying that Australia is committed to supporting displaced Rohingya and host communities in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.