UNHCR Takes Note of MSF Rejection of EU Funding Over Refugee Policy

The UN Refugee Agency took note of the Doctors Without Borders’ (MSF) Friday decision to no longer seek EU funding, UNHCR spokesman William Spindler told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) took note of the Doctors Without Borders’ (MSF) Friday decision to no longer seek EU funding amid its dangerous migration policies, UNHCR spokesman William Spindler told Sputnik.

Earlier on Friday, MSF said that they would no longer accept funding from the European Union member states amid the bloc’s approach to the migration crisis.

"We take note of MSF’s decision. While not being a party to the EU —Turkey Statement, UNHCR has been consistently calling for a holistic and comprehensive response to the European refugee situation that puts solidarity and responsibility sharing between States and protection for refugees at its center," Spindler said.

The spokesman stressed also that the UNHCR has shared recommendations with Greek authorities to address existing gaps on registration, asylum and reception of refugees.

"In Turkey, UNHCR continues to advocate with the Turkish authorities to have access to all persons of concern, and to ensure enhanced protection for persons of concern," he said.

The European Union is currently struggling to manage a massive refugee crisis dubbed by Frontex as the worst refugee crisis since World War II, with hundreds of thousands of people leaving conflict-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa to escape violence and poverty and seek asylum in Europe.

In mid-March, Brussels and Ankara agreed on a deal under which Turkey pledged to take back all undocumented migrants who arrive in the European Union through its territory in exchange for Syrian refugees accommodated in Turkey, on a one-for-one basis. In return, the 28-member bloc pledged to accelerate the Turkish EU accession bid and introduce a visa-free regime between Turkey and the Schengen Area.