Belgium, Netherlands want EU to play major role in dealing with migration crisis

BRUSSELS, Sept 4 (KUNA) -- Belgium and the Netherlands urged the European Union Friday to set aside bureaucratic rules and immediately unlock additional emergency aid for refugees from the Syria-Iraq region who are seeking refuge in Europe.
"This exceptional crisis requires an exceptional response, certainly in Europe. Otherwise, a region close to our European borders risks a lost generation," said Alexander De Croo, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation and Lilianne Ploumen, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, in a joint statement.
"We can not close our eyes. The EU can and should play a major role in addressing this situation." They described war in Syria as "the most serious conflict of this century," noting that more than 250,000 people have died and more than one million are injured.
The number of Syrian refugees also reached a grim record. Over four million Syrians have left their country to a neighboring country and Syria has 7.6 million displaced persons. To date, 5.6 million Syrian children are in need of humanitarian aid.
Most of these refugees (over 90 percent) choose to stay in the area. Some of them have already spent four winters in a refugee camp, noted the statement.
The Netherlands announced last week a wide range of assistance to the region of Syria and Iraq totaling USD 48.5 million. Belgium has also today boosted its humanitarian efforts in the region to the tune of 30 million euros.
The two ministers said that "this aid is absolutely necessary. It provides support, both short and long term, to the people who had to abandon everything and have often lost members of their families." The European Commission has a development budget of 10 billion euros per year and 1.2 billion euros in humanitarian aid, they said.
"Europe must be faster and more flexible, let alone regarding development budgets and wider coverage needs. At present, the bureaucratic rules impede a quick release of funds and are an obstacle to a rapid and integrated response," added De Croo and Ploumen. (end) nk.sd