Tag: migrants

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-Top News Europe

UK seeks ‘urgent’ migrant talks with Europe after French snub

“There is still so much more we can do and I am sorry not to be at a meeting with European ministerial counterparts today to discuss this pressing issue,” she wrote in the tabloid…reports Asian Lite News.

The government on Sunday announced plans for its own talks on the Channel migration crisis with European Ministers this week as it was frozen out of a crisis meeting in France.

Home Secretary Priti Patel was barred from Sunday’s meeting in Calais after Prime Minister Boris Johnson published the text of a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron setting out London’s demands for concerted action.

But following the tragic drownings of 27 people in the Channel last Wednesday, she tweeted: “I will be holding urgent talks with my European counterparts this week to prevent further tragedies in the Channel.”

There was no immediate comment from Ms. Patel’s Interior Ministry on the venue or timing of the talks.

But Patel used a commentary piece in the Sun on Sunday newspaper to spell out the need for joint action, and for tougher U.K. legislation, as she comes under pressure in right-wing media and from her own Conservative party to get a grip on the crisis.

“There is still so much more we can do and I am sorry not to be at a meeting with European ministerial counterparts today to discuss this pressing issue,” she wrote in the tabloid.

“We need to be creative about finding new solutions that will have the maximum possible impact, which is why the prime minister and I stand ready to discuss proposals with our French counterparts at any time,” Patel said.

“And I know from my discussions with my European partners in recent days and weeks that there is more that can be done. Together, we can break up the people-smuggling gangs and save lives —but we must act now.”

Ministers from France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium met in the French port of Calais on Sunday, following the deaths of the 27 Iraqi Kurds and others as they attempted to cross from France to England in a fragile dinghy.

ALSO READ-Kamala pledges additional aid to tackle migrant crisis

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Africa News Arab News World

163 illegal migrants deported to Nigeria from Libya

Libya

Libya’s anti-illegal migration department said that 163 illegal migrants have been deported to their native country of Nigeria…reports Asian Lite News

“Based on instructions from the Interior Ministry and the Attorney General’s office, 163 illegal Nigerian migrants, including women and children, managed to return to their country voluntarily in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM),” the department added in a statement.

163 illegal migrants deported to Nigeria from Libya

All the migrants have been tested for Covid-19 before departure, it said.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores, Xinhua news agency reported.

ALSO READ: IOM deported 140 illegal Bangladeshi migrants from Libya

The Voluntary Humanitarian Return program, run by the IOM, arranges the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their homelands.

Since 2015, more than 53,000 illegal migrants have returned from Libya through the program, with support from the European Union and the Italian Migration Fund, according to the IOM.

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Africa News Arab News World

IOM deported 140 illegal Bangladeshi migrants from Libya

IOM deported 140 illegal Bangladeshi migrants from Libya

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that it has deported 140 illegal Bangladeshi migrants to their country of origin…reports Asian Lite News

The migrants, including nine with medical conditions, were assisted to return to Bangladesh from Benghazi last week, in the first Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) flight from the city since the resumption of the IOM’s VHR program, Xinhua news agency quoted the UN migration agency as saying.

IOM deported 140 illegal Bangladeshi migrants from Libya

“Closely facilitated and supported by the Embassy of Bangladesh, the returning migrants underwent health checks and were provided with counselling services and protection screening, as well as personal protective equipment and Covid-19 tests before boarding,” the statement said.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

ALSO READ: UNHCR: rescues 216 illegal migrants off Libyan coast

The VHR program, run by the IOM, arranges the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their homelands.

Since 2015, more than 53,000 migrants have been returned from Libya through the VHR programme, with support from the European Union and the Italian Migration Fund, according to the IOM.

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Arab News World

UNHCR: rescues 216 illegal migrants off Libyan coast

216 illegal migrants were rescued off Libya’s western coast…reports Asian Lite News

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that 216 illegal migrants were rescued off Libya’s western coast.

UNHCR: rescues 216 illegal migrants off Libyan coast

“Last two nights, 2 boats with a total of 216 persons aboard were returned to Zawiya and Tripoli,” UNHCR tweeted on Tuesday.

No missing persons were reported, and medical care, food and water were provided, it said, Xinhua news agency reported.

Almost 400 illegal migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and returned to Libya in the past week, said the International Organization for Migration (IOM) also on Tuesday.

ALSO READ: In two days, over 1,000 migrants cross Channel to UK

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of its leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

So far in 2021, a total of 26,705 illegal migrants, including women and children, have been rescued, while 493 died and 686 went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, according to the IOM.

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-Top News UK News

In two days, over 1,000 migrants cross Channel to UK


The Home Office said UK support last year helped France double the number of officers deployed daily on the beaches of its northern coast…reports Asian Lite News.

More than 1,000 migrants arrived in Britain over two days this weekend as good weather saw the return of small boat crossings, the Telegraph reported.

UK government said it had rescued or intercepted a total of 1,115 migrants attempting to cross the English Channel over just two days.

The huge increase in Channel crossings by migrants in small boats have contributed to growing tensions between the UK and France following former’s departure from the European Union.

The UK authorities on Saturday recovered 491 people in 17 operations and 624 people in 23 operations on Friday, while French authorities prevented 414 migrants from reaching the UK over the same two days, media reported.

In July, UK and France had agreed on deal to stem the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in which France will double the number of police patrolling its beaches.

Also, the UK will pay more than 54 million pounds as part of the deal agreed between ministers, according to a BBC report.

The Home Office said the two countries would also improve intelligence sharing and use better technology to target those who organise the crossings. The number of people crossing the Channel this year has now overtaken last year’s total.

The Home Office said UK support last year helped France double the number of officers deployed daily on the beaches of its northern coast.

It said this resulted in France preventing twice as many crossings so far this year compared with the same period in 2020.

However, it said the people who facilitated the crossings had now changed their tactics and had moved further up the French coast, “forcing migrants to take even longer, riskier journeys”.

The new support announced by the UK would enable France “to respond by posting more security forces further up the coast, installing and utilising the latest surveillance equipment throughout northern France”, the Home Office said.

Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said the extra funding would “help to stem the flow of people seeking to make that very dangerous crossing”.

ALSO READ-Young Surrey Woman to Swim the English Channel for Charity

READ MORE-France and UK Come to Terms on Channel

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-Top News Europe

France urges EU to handle migrants at Northern Borders

In 2020, more than 9,500 crossings or attempted crossings of the Channel were registered, four times as many as in 2019, while the tally for the first half of 2021 already tops the total for last year…reports Asian Lite News.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin asked for the EU border agency Frontex’s assistance and the closer cooperation of northern European states in stemming the flow of illegal migrants crossing the Channel en route to the United Kingdom.

“We need European air surveillance. I myself have contacted Frontex, which is predominantly taking care of southern Europe, and asked them to deal with northern Europe, too, particularly the coastline of Nord-Pas-de-Calais,” Darmanin said during his visit to the northern French city of Calais, a point from which many migrants try to cross the Channel to reach the UK, as quoted by The Times.

Darmanin welcomed a deal signed last week under which London pledged 63 million euros (USD 74 million) to help France curb migrant flow to the UK by deploying more security forces and installing the latest surveillance equipment.

The minister called on the Netherlands and Belgium to foster cooperation since up to 60% of migrants that enter France on the way to the UK come from Belgium. The issue is to be placed on the agenda after France takes over the EU presidency in January 2021.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin (IANS)

In 2020, more than 9,500 crossings or attempted crossings of the Channel were registered, four times as many as in 2019, while the tally for the first half of 2021 already tops the total for last year.

Last week, the UK had agreed to pay France an extra 55 million pounds ($74 million) to combat a surge in illegal boats crossing the English Channel, the Home Office in London announced.

In order to stem the rising number of migrants crossing the Channel, British Home Secretary Priti Patel agreed to pay the sum as part of a deal reached with French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.

The money, on top of 25 million pounds allocated last year, will pay to double the number of French patrol police to around 200 a day, and to extend the use of surveillance technology over a wider area of the north French coast, the Home Office said on Wednesday.

It is also expected to lead to a joint bid to forge a new pan-European deal for European Union (EU) nations to take back illegal migrants who reach the UK.

The Home Office said the number of people who have made the crossing in 2021 so far is already higher than last year’s record-breaking 8,420 crossings.

Local media reported that almost 1,000 have crossed the Channel to the UK in the past three days as smugglers took advantage of the good weather, bringing the total number to at least 8,452 this year.

Thousands more are expected over the next two months. (ANI/Sputnik/IANS)

ALSO READ-France rolls out Covid passport to enter crowded places

READ MORE-France and UK Come to Terms on Channel

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-Top News USA

Kamala pledges additional aid to tackle migrant crisis

The pledged aid package offers $255 million in relief funds to mitigate the damage from persistent drought as well as food shortages …reports Asian Lite News

The Unites States Vice President Kamala Harris has pledged an additional $310 million humanitarian aid for Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in order to tackle wave of migration from those countries to the US, according to media reports.

The vice president had held virtual discussions with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei regarding the funding on Monday.

According to reports, Harris spokeswoman Symone Sanders said the leaders discussed the need for long-term economic growth to create jobs and stop the flow of migrants to the U.S., which has caused an early political and humanitarian crisis for President Joe Biden.

The aid package includes $255 million in relief funds to mitigate the damage from persistent drought as well as food shortages and the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Harris’ office.

Also read:We are determined to help India, says Biden

The money would also fund safety precautions for refugees and asylum seekers and provide health and disaster-relief services to people in those three countries.

Another $55 million in Department of Agriculture funds would go to strengthen Guatemala’s farming industry and expand access to daily meals and literacy programs in Guatemala and Honduras, Harris’ office said, according to media reports.

Biden chose the vice president to lead the diplomatic response to the migration crisis by engaging with Central American governments.

The new role of Harris resembles that of Biden when he was vice president and asked by then President Barack Obama in 2014 and 2015 to lead diplomatic efforts in the Northern Triangle after a surge of unaccompanied minors from those countries began arriving in the United States.

Also read:Time to prepare for next pandemic: Kamala

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Bollywood Lite Blogs

Sonu Sood focuses on exemplary new mission – “They trust him”

The actor says he will make a good example out of Punjab which will inspire the entire nation…reports Asian Lite News.

Sonu Sood gained a great response from people through his for his charity amid the coronavirus pandemic. Actor Sonu Sood, the Messiah of the migrants who refuses to call himself so, has donned a new hat. Beginning Sunday, he is the brand ambassador of the Punjab government for its Covid vaccination programme.

The actor says he will make a good example out of Punjab which will inspire the entire nation.

Talking about the responsibility that he now has, Sonu tells, “I feel really blessed, motivated. A huge amount of responsibility is on my shoulders that I have to spread the message across to everyone. People have to get vaccinated and we make sure that every family gets its share of vaccination. We should be an example for everyone that how fast people get vaccinated in Punjab. I am on it and we will make sure that the message reaches out to everyone and reaches fast. I always feel that when something like this happens, it has to start from Punjab.”

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh made the announcement of appointing Sonu Sood as brand ambassador for vaccination a day after meeting him, who called on him at his residence.

“There is no one more ideally suited to inspire and influence people to take the vaccine. There is a lot of hesitancy among people here in Punjab. Sonu’s popularity among them, and his exemplary role in helping tens of thousands of migrants reach safely home since the pandemic broke out last year, will help counter their reservations,” said the Chief Minister earlier on Sunday.”When people hear this Punjab ‘da puttar’ talk about the benefits of vaccines, and how safe and essential it is, they will believe him. Because they trust him,” Amarinder Singh said.

Sonu Sood has lately been working for people – from helping migrants stuck during lockdown, to providing e-rickshaws to the unemployed, the actor is garnering praise from fans across the country.

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