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JRS director protests at decision to end rescue services for boat refugees


Louise Zanre, Director of Jesuit Refugee Services has added her voice to protests today at the British Government's decision to stop supporting search and rescue services in the  Mediterranean that have saved the lives of thousands of refugees fleeing conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.

Louise said: “The decision is unconscionable. It puts peoples’ lives at risk – and purely because of a nonsensical idea that rescuing people at sea is in some way a pull factor. People are being forced to flee across the Mediterranean in unseaworthy boats and in overcrowded conditions. No one makes that choice if he or she does not have to.

"It is wrong to withdraw support for the rescue operation. And it is wrong to use these circumstances to make a cheap political point about immigration. It is almost inconceivable that 150,000 people have had to be rescued at sea in the Mediterranean, while fleeing for their lives. We should not make this a tragedy worse by refusing to rescue them.”

Jesuit Refugee Service UK accompanies, serves and advocates on behalf of asylum seekers from their first arrival until they are settled satisfactorily. We especially work with detained asylum seekers and destitute asylum seekers. This work then feeds into our campaigning and lobbying activities at a local, national and international level.

For more information on JRS see: www.jrsuk.net

 To make a donation see: www.justgiving.com/jesuitrefugeeservice

If you shop on-line, you can choose from many everyday brands and a percentage will go to JRS: www.giveasyoulive.com/howitworks
 

See also: ICN 28 October 2014
MP slams 'shameful' decision to stop Mediterranean search & rescue operations www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=25863

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