Two migrant centres built in Croatia by end of year

Croatian Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic confirmed on Thursday two centres for migrants would be built by the end of the year.

One centre would be built in Tovarnik on Croatia's eastern border with Serbia and the other in Croatian southern town of Trilj, he said, adding each of them has a capacity of receiving approximately 100 people.

The construction will be financed from funds of the European Schengen passport-free zone, he said.

However, he stressed centres were a part of the system for taking care of migrants and would not resolve the problem of refugee waves.

According to the agreement with EU, Croatia will receive 550 refugees from Middle East and Africa.
     Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
  3/9/15
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Related:

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• Thousands of Syrian refugees continue to reach Europe

• Latvia offers to resettle 250 refugees

• Syria on Thursday called for joint international efforts to help address the snowballing refugee problem.

Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said his government is saddened by the drowning of Syrian refugees trying to seek asylum in Europe.

"We are not only sad. We are angry to see Syrians and others sinking down into the seas but what can we do in our circumstances," Mekdad said, vowing that his government will do anything to bring the phenomenon to an end.

His remarks came one day after the emergence of haunting images of the body of a three-year-old Syrian boy on a Turkish beach.

"I assure you that we will do anything to prevent such a phenomenon from continuing on. But in this respect, Syria needs the full support of the international community."

• He called on all Syrians to come back to their country "because this is their right place of existence," Mekdad said, accusing Western media and Turkey of encouraging the Syrians to leave their country.

"The Syrian government cannot shy away from its own responsibility but under the present circumstances the best we can do is to encourage Syrians to stay here," Mekdad added.

Millions of Syrians have fled, seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Many seek to take the sea trip with smugglers to reach Europe.

Dozen of Syrians have drowned on their way to reach Europe, many of them women and children.  

Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
  3/9/15