The United Nations today called for calm on the Greek-Turkish border, urging that no "excessive" violence be used against the thousands of migrants flocking to Europe.
"Countries certainly have the legal right to control their borders and manage illegal movement, but they must show restraint in the use of excessive and disproportionate force and implement a system that allows for asylum applications to be coordinated." , a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Babar Baloch, said in an email to Agence France-Presse.
Balutz explained that UNHCR staff in the provinces of Izmir, Canakkale and Edirne, Turkey, "monitor the increased movement of people, assess the situation and provide humanitarian assistance when needed". The operation, which is being coordinated with the Turkish Red Crescent, the International Organization for Migration and Unicef, also informs migrants and refugees about the dangers they may face when trying to cross the border illegally, either by land or from the sea, he added.
UNHCR also calls on asylum seekers to "respect the law and avoid creating situations that disrupt public order and security at the border and elsewhere".
Source: RES-EAP
