Finland to take 750 Syrian refugees from Turkey | national

Sat, 19 Dec, 2015 01:55:46 AM

Finland to take 750 Syrian refugees from Turkey

FTimes- STT Report, Dec 19

Syrian Refugee child is pictured at the refugee camp in Osmaniye on December 15, 2015. Photo AFP-Lehtikuva.

Finland is preparing to welcome next year 750 Syrian refugees living in Turkey, said the Ministry of the Interior.

This is the according to the quota which the Ministry of the Interior allocates each year.

The rationale for the quota is the continuing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Syria.

Turkey, for its part, is required to stay in line with the action plan devised between the EU and Turkey to stop illegal immigration into the EU area.

Syrian migrants wait aboard the Turkish Coast Guard ship Umut after being rescued while attempting to reach the Greek Island Chios on the Agean Sea near Izmir in the night of December 9 to December 10, 2015. Photo AFP-Lehtikuva.

This is prerequisite for the resettlement of refugees.

Refugees may also come from Lebanon, Jordan and North Africa, if Turkey fails to uphold its responsibilities.

Finland is also preparing to receive one hundred emergency cases from these areas. These refugees require urgent protection or medical attention.

The decision was made in accordance with EU guidelines.

Finland will stand by its decision not to raise the number of quota refugees next year even, if the EU increases pressure to take refugees from Turkish camps.

Finland's refugee quota next year is set at 750 persons when this year the figure was 1,050 persons.

Finland Times