It is deeply shameful that in a rich Europe, with more than 500 million inhabitants, it has not been possible for years to find a solution for 13,000 people seeking protection. As early as March this year, Caritas Switzerland drew the attention of Federal Councillor Keller-Sutter to the inhumane situation in the completely overcrowded camps on the Greek islands and demanded that Switzerland admit a much larger number of people. Now, the long-predicted humanitarian crisis has occurred due to lack of action.
Caritas expects Federal Councillor Keller-Sutter and the Federal Council to take concrete measures that are worthy of Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition. Humanitarian commitment is measured by concrete action, and in this case by what Switzerland is currently doing for those affected by the catastrophic situation. This includes, on the one hand, rapid protective measures and humanitarian aid. Caritas, too, supports refugees in Greece to improve their living conditions. On the other hand, a lasting solution is now needed to make such inhumane refugee camps a thing of the past. Caritas Switzerland once again calls on the Federal Council, together with other cooperating states, to accept the refugees as quickly and unbureaucratically as possible.
