More children and women seek safety in Europe: UNICEF

On 26 January 2016, a young boy is carrying a large bundle of warm blankets on his shoulders. He is in the Miratovac Refugee Aid Point where, along with his family members, he can access support services and have an opportunity to rest before continuing his journey.

In 2015, more than one million refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean, arriving on Europeís shores, of which an estimated 253,700 ñ or one in four ñ were children. Latest trends show that children now make up 36 percent of the migration flow coming through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Woman and children now make up 57 percent of the refugee and migrants with the majority from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Children arriving into a harsh winter in southeastern Europe are physically exhausted, scared, distressed and often in need of medical assistance, UNICEF warned.The recent sub-zero temperatures and sometimes snowy conditions is exacerbating the childrenís poor physical condition as many children on the move do not have adequate clothing, or access to age-appropriate nutrition. This has been worsened by the lack of shelter and inadequate heating in some reception centres as well as buses and trains. UNICEF said the issue was pressing as the proportion of children amongst refugees and migrants ñ now more than one in three ñ has continued to increase. According to national sources, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the ratio was 37 per cent in December, compared to 23 per cent in September, while in Serbia, 36 per cent were children in December compared to 27 per cent in September. In December most children transiting through UNICEF child-friendly spaces in Serbia were young children, including babies and infants and those between 5 to 9 years old.

More children and women seek safety in Europe: UNICEF

03/02/2016 ENstaff children, Europe, FYROM, migrants, refugees, UNICEF, women

For the first time since the start of the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe, there are more children and women on the move than adult males, says UNICEF.

in brief

Pasión del Tango

03/02/2016 ENstaff Argentina, dance, Half Note Jazz Club, tango

Passionate tango tunes will be perfromed by Greek harmonica soloist Kostas Vlachopoulos and Argentinean singer-guitarist Herman Mayr at the Half Note Jazz Club.

people society

A digital guide to Thessaloniki’s Jewish history

03/02/201608/02/2016 ENstaff embassy of Canada, Embassy of Germany, Embassy of Israel, Jewish community, Thessaloniki

The i-Phone Jewish Legacy APP presents through an interactive map, the city’s landmarks linked to the rich history and culture of Thessaloniki’s Jewish community.

foreign affairs

Foreign Ministers Kotzias – Mammadyarov meet in Baku, Azerbaijan

03/02/201603/02/2016 ENstaff Azerbaijan, Baku, energy, Greece, Kotzias, Mammadyarov, TAP

KOTZIAS: “I express my support for the Minsk Group’s efforts to find a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs gave me information for a better understanding of the position of our friends in Azerbaijan on this issue.”

people society

Two Greeks and a Holywood actress nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

02/02/201602/02/2016 ENstaff

Two residents of the Aegean island of Lesvos and Susan Saradon were proposed by the Academy of Athens and the Hellenic Olympic Committee.

society

IOM: Migrant arrivals in Greece reached 62,000 in January

02/02/2016 ENstaff IOM, migrants, refugeecrisis, Syrianrefugees

Fatalities of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean in January topped 360 due to a particularly deadly final weekend of the month.

econ/biz european union

ECB Draghi: ‘Cohesion of Europe is being tested’

02/02/2016 ENstaff banks, Draghi, ECB, economy, EU, Europe, European Union

DRAGHI: The policy challenges we face are fourfold. They relate to: the global environment; the situation of the financial system; the economic and fiscal policies of Member States; and the political uncertainty surrounding the European project.

foreign affairs

FM Kotzias visits Baku, flies to Amsterdam, then Tehran

02/02/2016 ENstaff Amsterdam, Azerbaijan, Baku, EU, Iran, Kotzias, Tehran, Tsipras

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias departs today [Feb-2] for Baku, where he will carry out an official visit at the invitation of his counterpart the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov.

society

The “Supporting Syria and the Region” conference to take place in London

01/02/201601/02/2016 ENstaff Germany, Kuwait, Norway, refugeecrisis, SupportSyrians, UK, United Nation

The UK, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and the United Nations on February 4th will co-host the conference in London, in an effort to raise significant new funding.

in brief

Kantor Management Consultants releases report on Greek Horticulture Sector

01/02/2016 ENstaff Embassy of the Netherlands, farming, greek economy, Greek horticulture sector

The report entitled “GREECE – Developments in the Greek Horticulture Sector: Greenhouses and Agro logistics” was commissioned by the Embassy of the Netherlands.

interviews people

Ambassador of Norway:”The challenge for the Greek economy is its competitive edge and its business climate” [interview]

07/06/2016 ENstaff

The Ambassador of Norway in Athens, His Excellency Jørn Eugene Gjelstad, spoke to EmbassyNews.net and commented on the current developments in Greek and European politics, the economy and the refugee crisis.