EU finishes contracting $7.3 bln refugee deal with Turkey - AA

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The EU on Dec. 17 announced the finalizing contracting process of €6 billion ($7.3 billion) in aid for refugees hosted by Turkey, focused on the 4 million Syrian refugees who since 2011 fled the war in their home country for safe shelter in Turkey.

Ethiopia pushes toward Tigray capital, rebuffs African mediation | One America News Network

(Reuters) – Ethiopia said on Saturday its forces had seized another town in their advance on the capital of northern Tigray region and rebuffed an African Union (AU) push to mediate in the war with rebel forces in the region.

‘Everything is destroyed again’: Armenian refugee family shares story with RT in aftermath of new Nagorno-Karabakh war — RT

 The war in Nagorno-Karabakh has sent tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians fleeing from the hostilities – and a peace deal, perceived by many as Armenia’s surrender, has left little hope of return, a family of refugees told RT.

US Training Daesh Detainees for Recruitment Into Illegal Militant Groups in Syria, Russia Says - Sputnik International

Russia has repeatedly called on the United States to disband hundreds of refugee camps on the territories outside Syrian government control, including the biggest ones such as al-Rukban and al-Hawl.

Syria’s president says US pressure obstructing return of refugees | Al Jazeera

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed US sanctions and pressure on the United Nations and Syria’s neighbours for the reticence of more than five million refugees who fled the conflict there to return.

UN migration agency says 140 drown in Senegal shipwreck - RTE

At least 140 Europe-bound migrants and refugees have drowned off the coast of Senegal in the deadliest shipwreck recorded this year, the UN migration agency said.

Greek police accuse aid workers of supporting migrant smugglers

Greek police have accused 35 people, among them two foreign nationals, from several foreign non-governmental aid organisations of illegally helping refugees and migrants to enter from Turkey.

Russia sets up refugee center in Syria: defense ministry

Russia has established a center for the reception, distribution and accommodation of refugees in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

7,000 Syrians Return Home in Daraa Countryside

Thousands of citizens returned to their homes in al-Naima town in the eastern countryside of Daraa after it was liberated by the Syrian army and its allies.

28,000 people return home after deal in Syria's Daraa

Over 28,000 people have returned to their homes in the southern province of Daraa over the past 24 hours, after the terrorists and the Syrian army halted the military operations under a Russian-backed deal, a monitor group reported on Saturday.

Israel Refuses to Accept Syrian Asylum Seekers, Defense Minister Says

Israel will not allow Syrian asylum seekers to enter its territory but is ready to assist them, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Friday amid the influx of Syrians near the country's northern border due to increasing hostilities in southern Syria.

Italy doubles down on anti-migrant stance ahead of EU summit

Italy doubled down Friday on its new tough stance against migrants, insisting it could not take "one more" refugee and warning the migration crisis could put the bloc's survival at stake.

US-Backed Militants Continue Blackmailing People in Northeastern Syria

The US-backed Kurdish militias continued blackmailing refugees in a camp in Southern Hasaka, local sources reported on Monday.

EU to Limit Visas If Countries Refuse to Take Back Migrants

The European Union moved Wednesday to speed up the return of unauthorized migrants, announcing plans to punish countries that refuse to take back their nationals by restricting visas for their diplomats.

Over 100 US Congressmen Urge Trump to Resume Contributions to UNRWA

A total of 102 US Congress members from the Democratic Party have urged US President Donald Trump to resume contributions to the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Syrie: l'offensive/invasion turque se poursuit à Afrine, des milliers de déplacés

De violents affrontements entre les forces turques et les combattants kurdes secouent mercredi des villages d'Afrine, enclave du nord-ouest de la Syrie pilonnée par les frappes aériennes, et où les blessés continuent d'affluer dans les hôpitaux.

Ankara prepares camps for Syrians fleeing offensive

Turkey is drawing up contingency plans to cope with possible movement of Syrian civilians towards the north of the country, as they flee Ankara’s air and ground offensive against Kurdish militia, AFP reported.

"Assad attacks" will cause new migration wave: Turkish PM

Turkey’s prime minister warned on Friday that the Assad regime's repeated, indiscriminate attacks in Idlib, Syria will create more refugees and lead to more pain.

Corridors humanitaires depuis la Libye: 10.000 réfugiés pourront en bénéficier en 2018

Jusqu'à 10.000 personnes bloquées dans des camps de réfugiés en Libye pourront profiter en 2018 de corridors humanitaires les amenant en toute sécurité en Europe avec un statut de réfugié, a estimé dimanche le gouvernement italien.

Merkel pledges to Turkey's Erdogan sped-up "refugee aid"

Germany’s chancellor told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Thursday that she will work to speed up the delivery of promised EU aid for Syrians in Turkey, according to presidential sources.