The UN refugee agency has censured Denmark for measures that were an “affront” to refugees’ dignity as its new head urged Europe not to throw up barriers to block a tide of asylum-seekers.
The UNHCR criticised Danish government proposals which would make reunification of refugee families and acquisition of refugee status more difficult.
In a document sent to the Danish government it zeroed in on a measure allowing police to confiscate asylum seekers’ belongings worth more than $436 to help pay for their stay which it described as “a deeply concerning response to humanitarian needs” and “an affront to their dignity”.
Filippo Grandi, an Italian diplomat who took over as UN High Commissioner for Refugees this week, separately told a news briefing that Europe must set an example by welcoming refugees and not erecting barriers, while sharing the burden fairly across the continent.
He singled out Germany, Turkey and Lebanon for praise for giving asylum to huge numbers of Syrians and other refugees.
Denmark has now imposed temporary checks on its border after Sweden put in place controls to stop refugees moving further north.
“If Europe had a coherent, co-ordinated response ... these border reactions that sometimes are justified, like in the case of Sweden by a huge arrival of people, wouldn’t be happening,” Grandi said.
“We will of course continue to say ‘You manage your border as you see necessary’, but the right of people to seek asylum should not be jeopardised. That’s very, very important.”
The European Union must implement its own agreement to improve identification and registration of refugees in Greece and Italy, relocate them equitably across the bloc, and provide humane return for those whose claims are rejected, he said.