Human Rights Association (IHD) Van Branch and Serhat Migration and Research Association released a press statement concerning the refugee deaths near the Van-Iran border. IHD’s central executive board member Hamdi Bayhan, who read out the joint statement, said that it is the responsibility of all states to prevent refugee deaths near borders. He remarked that refugees and migrants become victims due to the government's war policies.

'REFUGEE MOTHER DIED WHILE WARMING HER CHILDREN'

Bayhan noted that the current migration route of refugees has become a route of death, recalling that a refugee mother who made her socks into gloves for her children died on the first day of the year. According to the field studies of the association, during the last 3 years, 49 people froze to death, 88 drowned in Lake Van, 42 died in traffic accidents and one refugee was killed by firearms. A total of 160 refugees lost their lives during this period of time.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Bayhan emphasized that all citizens, especially human rights defenders, should fulfil their responsibilities towards refugees, continuing with the following recommendations:

“* The EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement should be terminated immediately, and the use of refugees as a bargaining chip against Europe should be stopped.

* Refugees should be provided with their basic needs such as education, health, shelter, nutrition, and work. Discrimination and hate crimes against refugees should be prevented.

* The ‘prohibition of return’ clause in the Foreigners and International Protection Law No. 6458 should be strictly enforced, and criminal and administrative actions against violations should be taken immediately.

* Repatriation Centres should be transformed into living spaces where fundamental rights and freedoms are enjoyed.

* The construction of the modular wall along the Van-Iran border should be halted. The existence of a modular wall would lead to further refugee grievances as well as the emergence of larger and more complex human trafficking.

* The geographic limitation to the 1951 Geneva Convention should be lifted, a law of asylum in line with human rights and international conventions should be prepared, and legal status should be given to refugees in Turkey.

* The European Union has denied the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights by suspending the right to live and asylum with its agreements and current practices. European and world states should open their borders to refugees, and the right to move freely and settlement of refugees should be recognized by all of them.”