On the occasion of today’s World Refugee Day, non-governmental organizations have heavily criticized the coalition, especially the ÖVP. In fact, there was talk of a “total failure” and a continued lack of preparedness for the fall as far as Ukraine is concerned. While the NGOs expressed their criticism, the People’s Party held a parallel press conference and presented a report on people smuggling and trafficking.
At the appointment on Monday morning, Lukas Gahleitner-Gertz of Asylum Coordination especially missed the preparations for the fall – with regard to aid to Ukraine. Gahleitner-Gertz drew attention to the fact that, according to him, there was no preparation whatsoever for the start of the school and the integration of Ukrainian youth into the school system. In addition, it is still unclear who will succeed Michael Takacs as refugee coordinator from the middle of this year. This feature is absolutely necessary as there are many different players in the base service.
“Enable access to social and family benefits”
In any case, the NGOs are convinced that support for the Ukrainian refugees can only be sustained thanks to the efforts of civil society. Manuela Ertl of “Train of Hope” demanded that contact with the organizations should not only be sought when the situation was particularly serious. Private individuals would also have had to wait months for promised funds. All NGOs are concerned with giving refugees from Ukraine access to social and family benefits.
It is scandalous for the NGOs that not only in the EU as a whole, but also in Austria so-called pushbacks (rejection of migrants at the border without checking whether they need protection) have become a systematic part of politics, as Anne Schlack of Amnesty International condemned. For Gahleitner-Gertz, Austria has maneuvered itself into a “dirty corner” internationally.
“Stop people with behavioral problems in ÖVP”
The fact that Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) welcomes this type of procedure (the Minister has already officially spoken out against pushbacks and also acknowledged their illegality, note) was condemned at the press conference, as was the VP’s criticism of statements such as that of the ECJ for indexation of child benefits. Former Vice-Chairman Ferdinand Maier of “Menschen.Würde.Österreich” spoke of “people with behavioral problems” in the People’s Party and a “total failure”.
Party leader Karl Nehammer is called upon to stop such statements, for example by Integration Minister Susanne Raab or Deputy Secretary General Laura Sachslehner.
Actor: ‘It cannot be true that a country acts like this’
Actor Cornelius Obonya recalled Austria’s historical role as a representative of “Courage – Courage for Humanity”. In 1938, there were countries that did not displace people fleeing Austria. There is no difference from today: “It cannot be true that a country with the history of Austria acts like this.” Maier recalled that not only were people fleeing the Russian aggression from Ukraine, but also in Syria. It is not clear that a distinction is made here.
Dangerous salami tactics in proceedings in Rwanda
Incidentally, the NGOs also clearly rejected the British plan to bring refugees from the country to Rwanda to handle their cases there. According to Schlack of Amnesty International, a “dangerous salami tactic” is being used here. Today, refugees are being deprived of their rights, and human rights in general could be next, she says.
So while the Austrian NGOs gave the federal government a disastrous testimony in the field of refugee care, the responsible interior minister also went for the press. Almost at the same time, Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) called for a press conference and called for “dealing with these major challenges” on World Refugee Day. More than 70,000 identity cards for war displaced persons from Ukraine have been issued.
‘They lure people and false pretenses all wrong’
However, the minister again referred to the smugglers’ dirty business. “They lure people into their clutches under completely false pretenses and drag them to Europe at the risk of their lives,” Karner said. “People from countries where they are unlikely to stay are being advertised as having a right to stay.” Currently, the Ukraine crisis in particular is being used as an excuse for countries like Afghanistan, India or Tunisia – because it has never been so easy to come to Europe.
Source: Krone
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