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The consequences of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria are devastating.
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Several politicians are calling for entry regulations to be eased for people affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. How do you feel about it? Discuss with us!
Not only the Greens and the SPÖ want to grant exceptional visas to those affected by the earthquake. The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas (ÖVP), also spoke in favor of the temporary admission of people who have relatives or friends in Austria. Furthermore, Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) is currently checking to what extent the wounded from Turkey and Syria can be treated in Austrian hospitals.
The ÖVP Foreign and Interior Ministers rejected the exceptional visas, but the usual Schengen visas, with which third-country nationals can stay up to 90 days in the common European zone, are about to be hastily approved. So far, the rush has been limited, informs the foreign policy office of “Imprensa”.
The Greens’ foreign policy spokeswoman, Ewa Ernst-Dziedzic, said in an interview with the “Presse”: “If we can help people in Europe through visa facilitation to prevent them from dying of cold or hunger, then it is our obligation Europe in the event of a disaster of this magnitude”.
The FPÖ opposes everything (apart from Udo Landbauer’s comments on Facebook) and advocates local help. The SPÖ district councilor in Vienna-Favoriten, Muhammed Yüksek, presented a citizens’ parliamentary initiative calling for the immediate creation of a six-month temporary humanitarian visa for relatives of people living in Austria affected by the earthquake.
Disasters like these cannot be overcome without unity.”
“After the devastating earthquake, solidarity and the wave of aid in Turkey are great”, writes “Presse” editor Duygu Özkan. Because from many countries – including Austria – help arrived shortly after the earthquake. Because: “Disasters like this can’t be allowed to outrun each other without cohesion.” However, the Turkish government will have to face critical issues later.
As our correspondent Susanne Güsten reports, experts in the region have been warning about poor construction and the risk of earthquakes for years. Now they blame Turkish government policies for the extent of the tragedy.
The earthquake also had political consequences in Syria. Because the Assad regime demands that international aid not fall into the hands of “terrorists”. And he is now trying to soften his regime’s international isolation even further. Thomas Seibert reports further.
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Discuss with us: is it now necessary to relax entry regulations for people from earthquake areas? And how else can you help?