Europe's refugee crisis has been dubbed the worst since WWII with a record number of 107,500 asylum seekers crossing the EU's borders in July. Tens of thousands of people are fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and North Africa to start a new life in Europe, but many meet a tragic end there.
- 06 September 2015
12:13 GMTDr. Zoe Fritz, who works as a medical consultant at the UK's Cambridge University Hospital, has set up an online database of people willing to house refugees. More than 2,000 people have offered up their homes, according to the Press Association.
- 11:49 GMTAustralian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says the country is prepared to accept more refugees.
He tweeted earlier on Sunday that Australia would consult with "international partners" regarding the refugee crisis.
11:44 GMT
One Direction singer Harry Styles has tweeted his support for the Save the Children campaign, urging fans to welcome refugees.
- 10:52 GMTPope Francis has called on every European parish to host one refugee family each.
"I appeal to the parishes, the religious communities, the monasteries and sanctuaries of all Europe to...take in one family of refugees," he said after his Sunday address.
He added that two parishes in the Vatican will take in a family in the coming days. The comment was met with applause from the crowd in St. Peter's Square.
- 10:19 GMTIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that while Israel is not indifferent to refugees fleeing Syria, the country cannot accommodate them.
“We have conscientiously treated thousands of wounded from the fighting in Syria, and we have helped them rebuild their lives," Netanyahu said at the opening of Sunday's weekly cabinet meeting. “But Israel is a very small country, with neither demographic or geographic depth, and therefore we must control our borders.”
The country will begin building a security barrier on Israel's eastern border with Jordan.
“We will not allow Israel to be flooded with illegal immigrants, work-seekers and terrorist activists,” Netanyahu said.
The comments come just one day after opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) called on the government to absorb refugees from Syria.
- 09:54 GMTGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to discuss the refugee crisis with her coalition partners on Sunday.
Authorities estimate that up to 800,000 people could apply for asylum in Germany by the end of the year.
- 09:27 GMTPolice have used batons to beat back a demonstration by some 300 refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos. The protesters were chanting “Athena, Athena” as they tried to leave the port area. Several people were injured in the clashes, with one taken away unconscious by an ambulance, AP reports.
The refugees say that local authorities are not processing them quickly enough so they can continue their journey towards western Europe. They also complain that authorities are not offering them any help, and that they are quickly running out of money.
The clashes between refugees and police were the third in just three days. The Sunday demonstration was led by Afghans.
- 09:23 GMTSeveral dozen French mayors have offered to house refugees, and have scheduled a national meeting to organize housing on September 12, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a statement Sunday.
09:22 GMT
Authorities in Cyprus say they have rescued 114 people believed to be refugees fleeing Syria, after their fishing boat issued a distress call some 46 miles off the country's southern coast, AP reports.
The passengers included 60 men, 30 children, 19 women, and five infants. They have been transferred to the southern port of Larnaca for health and identity checks.
Three men, including a 28-year-old believed to be the boat's captain, have been arrested and are being questioned.
source :RT
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