New facts and figures included in the OSCE PA Special Report
COPENHAGEN, 12 February 2013 – OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver today issued an updated report on the humanitarian crisis in Syria and its impact on the OSCE region. The report is published in advance of a special debate to be held on the topic at the OSCE PA’s Winter Meeting in Vienna on 22 February.
Following an initial release in November, information has been updated in the report entitled Humanitarian Crisis in Syria: A Special Report on the Impact of Syrian Refugees in the OSCE Region.
In addition to providing new facts and figures, the report details the ongoing international response to the crisis, including the efforts of the OSCE PA to raise awareness and support for the countries most affected by the influx of refugees. In November, OSCE PA President Riccardo Migliori visited a refugee camp in Turkey, stating, “The situation in Syria demands an international response.”
“This updated report demonstrates that the consequences of the conflict in Syria affect the whole of the OSCE region,” said Oliver. “It showcases the efforts OSCE countries are making in addressing this humanitarian crisis, and particularly the admirable job that several countries, including Jordan and Turkey, are doing in hosting those fleeing the violence. However, resources will soon reach their limits, which is why parliaments and governments should use this report to help jumpstart international discussions for new policy options.”
Since November, the crisis inside and outside of Syria has deteriorated. The number of refugees increased in almost all countries examined, where decisions continued to be made mostly at the national level. More than 275,000 Syrians have now crossed the border entering the OSCE region and the crisis is spreading in OSCE participating States and partner States.
The report identifies key areas in which the governments of OSCE participating States and partner States are contributing to, and being affected by, the humanitarian crisis, and finally, lays out policy recommendations for OSCE participating States. As in the original version in November, this updated report recommends increasing the transparency regarding asylum applications, sharing responsibility to host refugees, creating consistent cohesive migration policy schemes for asylum-seekers, and extend visas for Syrian nationals currently working or studying abroad.
These topics will be discussed at the OSCE PA Winter Meeting’s Special Debate, on “How OSCE countries should respond to crises in Syria, the Sahel and North Africa.”
