EUROPE-MIGRANTS/EU-KURDI DEMO Aunt of drowned Syrian toddler urges EU leaders to "open hearts" at Brussels demo

Record ID: 139823

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/EU-KURDI DEMO Aunt of drowned Syrian toddler urges EU leaders to "open hearts" at Brussels demo
  • Date: 14th September 2015
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (SEPTEMBER 14, 2015) (REUTERS) "WALL OF WELCOME" IN FRONT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION DRAWING OF DROWNED SYRIAN TODDLER, AYLAN KURDI, WITH ANGEL WINGS SURROUNDED BY STARS OF EU FLAG / PHOTOGRAPHS OF SUPPORTERS WELCOMING REFUGEES, PEOPLE COMING TO LOOK AT AND PLACE PHOTOS ON WALL WOMAN PLACING PHOTOGRAPH ON WALL PHOTOGRAPHS OF SUPPORT ON WALL MESSAGE READING (E
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5TRCXKIG9EEGNKT0P9VDFRXXQ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Aunt of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi, Fatima Kurdi, called on European leaders to find a solution to the migrant crisis at a demonstration in Brussels on Monday (September 14).
    Fatima Kurdi spoke ahead of an emergency meeting of European interior ministers at the European Council on Monday afternoon to deal with the unprecedented influx of migrants, which has overburdened Italy, Greece and Hungary.
    "Please, save those refugees, do something. Let's put hands together, find a solution, make it happen, people should open their hearts, and help those refugees," she said in front of a giant "Wall of Welcome" where supporters placed photos in support of welcoming refugees.
    NGO Avaaz, which organised the event, will later deliver a 1.2 million strong petition to EU officials calling on politicians to open their doors and start a humane refugee policy.
    Actors wearing caricatures of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and German Chancellor Angela Merkel showed Orban, who has drawn criticism for his tough stance on migrants, setting up a barbed wire fence.
    The actor playing Merkel, whose country could get 1 million new arrivals this year according to the country's Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, cut the barbed wire away.
    Diplomats said after talks in Brussels on Sunday that Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were refusing to accept the compulsory distribution of 120,000 asylum seekers to be discussed at Monday's meeting - even though Hungary, which has taken in large numbers, would benefit.
    Renewed discussions on Monday morning did not produce any breakthrough either. One diplomat said Lithuania and Romania had also expressed unhappiness with the scheme that would oblige them to take in thousands of migrants fleeing violence and oppression in Iraq, Syria or Eritrea.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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