| Germany and Spain advocate for “fair distribution” of asylum-seekers. Speaking alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in southern Spain on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the two governments shared a similar approach to migration and would advocate for the “fair distribution ” of asylum-seekers across the European Union ahead of an informal meeting of EU States in Austria next month. Last Monday, Spain became the first EU country to sign an agreement with Germany to take back asylum-seekers who arrive at the German-Austrian border after having already registered in Spain. Germany is seeking similar bilateral agreements with Italy and Greece. | | |
| Wave of strikes raises fears of “civilian bloodbath” in northwest Syria. Reuters reports that dozens of airstrikes and shelling hit parts of opposition-held Hama, Idlib and Aleppo provinces on Friday, killing at least 29 people, in a possible prelude to a full-scale government offensive. On Thursday, the Syrian army dropped leaflets over Idlib province urging people to agree to a return to state rule. Jan Egeland, head of the UN’s humanitarian task force for Syria, appealed for talks to avert a “civilian bloodbath” in the province, where more than half of the current population of approximately two million have been displaced by fighting elsewhere in the country. | | |
| First local election at Rohingya refugee camp empowers women. A project to elect community representatives from the Rohingya population living in an unregistered refugee settlement in Teknaf, south of Cox’s Bazar, resulted in half the chosen representatives being women. The election in Shalbagan was organized by UNHCR in collaboration with Adventist Development and Relief Agency and local Bangladeshi authorities. Al Jazeera profiles Romeda Begum, one of the camp’s new female leaders , who has been working to resolve grievances and domestic quarrels in her community since being elected in June. | | |
| Syrian refugees in Jordan express fear of going home. Middle East Eye spoke to dozens of residents of Za’atari refugee camp who said they had little reason to go back to Syria . Many said their homes were in ruins or that they feared arrest, detention and forced conscription if they returned. Monthly surveys conducted by UNHCR in the region have found that the majority of respondents hoped to return to Syria one day. Safety and security and lack of housing and livelihood opportunities are among the key reasons for not wanting to return in the next 12 months. | | |
| Teenage cast of German opera sing about refugee experience. The New York Times reports on a new production by the Bavarian State Opera’s youth programme written for refugees, children of immigrants and local Bavarians. In the opera, teenage cast members tell the story of Moses with interludes about refugee experiences and current events. Behind the scenes, “Moses” has provided a way to learn German and make friends. The work’s premiere run, last December, sold out, and performances were added to the revival at the Munich Opera Festival in July. | | |
| In this film, The Economist profiles some of the 3,000 businesses run by refugee entrepreneurs at Za'atari camp in Jordan. They include Qaseem from Dara'a, who has found a niche customizing bicycles, and Hassan, who employs seven people to make and sell sweets at four outlets in the camp. Refugee-run businesses in Za'atari are estimated to generate US$13 million a month. | | |
In 2017, 45,500 unaccompanied and separated children sought asylum worldwide. That number has more than doubled since 2014.
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