UNHCR urges countries to continue examining Syrians’ asylum claims

“Anyone seeking international protection must be able to access asylum procedures and have their application examined,” according to UNHCR.

Dec. 9 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has urged that Syrians’ asylum applications continue to be examined after several European countries have temporarily suspended their processing following the fall of the president’s regime over the weekend. Syria, Bashar al Assad.

“In light of an uncertain and highly changing situation, the suspension of the processing of asylum applications from Syrians is acceptable as long as people can apply for asylum and can submit applications,” he said in a statement sent to Europe. Press.

UNHCR has thus “taken note” of the decision of several European countries to suspend all procedures for asylum applications submitted by Syrian citizens after the fall of Al Assad, who has fled the country and is now in Russia.

In this sense, he stressed that Syrian asylum seekers awaiting a response must continue to have “the same rights” as other people. “No asylum seeker should be forcibly returned,” he added.

“Anyone seeking international protection must be able to access asylum procedures and have their application examined fully and individually on its merits in accordance with appropriate procedural safeguards,” he recalled.

The UN agency has also stated that at the moment it is “not in a position to provide guidance” to countries on the “risk factors” of Syrian asylum seekers. Therefore, UNHCR will provide this information to States “once the conditions are clear.”

The fall of the Al Assad regime has taken place as a result of the lightning offensive launched by jihadists and rebels, which caused a continued withdrawal of government troops, supported by Russia and Iran, until the flight on Sunday of the country’s former president since the year 2000 of the capital before the collapse of its forces.