borders

EU foreign ministers assessing the six months since November’s Valletta Summit on migration from Africa must shift their focus to the urgent needs of people fleeing from violence and human rights abuses, said Oxfam and ICMC.

New proposals from the European Commission on migration are a first step toward creating safe and legal routes for people on the move, says Oxfam.

As a number of European countries are refusing entry to refugees and migrants of certain nationalities, Oxfam is concerned that this will leave thousands of people stranded and their future uncertain.

"The new restrictions on entry for Syrians into Lebanon are part of a worrying, wider trend reflecting quite simply less and less opportunities for Syrians to escape conflict inside Syria," said Camilla Jelbart Mosse, Oxfam's Syria Campaign Manager.

Gareth Price-Jones, Oxfam's Humanitarian Affairs Representative, said: “Governments meeting in Geneva today had the opportunity to transform the lives of some of Syria’s most vulnerable refugees – an opportunity they largely failed to take

Over 30 international organizations are calling on governments meeting in Geneva tomorrow to commit to offering sanctuary to at least 5 per cent of the most vulnerable refugees from Syria currently in neighboring countries - 180,000 people - by the end of 2015.