UNITED NATIONS: The head of the United Nations refugee agency has called upon the European Union to admit 200,000 asylum seekers fleeing conflict zones like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Europe cannot go on responding to this crisis with a piecemeal or incremental approach. No country can do it alone and no country can refuse to do its part,” Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said in a statement on Friday.

Mr Guterres: said the biggest influx of refugees into Europe in decades required a “massive common effort” and a break with the current “fragmented approach which has not helped the continent find an effective common response”.

The UN official praised some exemplary and “truly inspiring” examples of generosity and moral leadership on the part of some countries and many private citizens, but reiterated his appeal for a collective strategy that includes a renewed drive to resolve long-running conflicts.

“A preliminary estimate would indicate a potential need to increase relocation opportunities to as many as 200,000 places,” he said. “This can only work if it goes hand in hand with adequate reception capacities, especially in Greece. Solidarity cannot be the responsibility of only a few EU member states.” “Europe is facing a moment of truth,” Mr Guterres said.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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