UNHCR Called For A Crackdown On The Smuggling Trade

Following the discovery yesterday of the bodies of 71 people inside a truck abandoned near the Austrian border with Hungary, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) called for a crackdown on the smuggling trade and for protection for those who are seeking a new life in Europe.

Austrian police say that they believe the truck came from Hungary and entered Austria on Wednesday night or early on Thursday morning, and that the victims might have been dead for one or two days before they were found. Initial investigations suggest that the victims were all migrants from Syria and probably died after suffocating.

Three people, thought to be Bulgarian, have been detained in Hungary and are believed to have driven the truck.

Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for UNHCR, said that the incident underscores the ruthlessness of people smugglers who have expanded their business from the Mediterranean Sea to the highways of Europe:

She said "it shows they have absolutely no regard for human life and that they are only after profit. It also shows the desperation of people seeking protection or a new life in Europe. And their only means is to submit themselves to these criminals."

In light of the tragedy, UNHCR is calling for strong cooperation between European police forces, intelligence agencies and international organisations to tackle the smuggling trade and put measures into place to protect and care for victims.

The agency has also reiterated its call to European countries to 'approach the refugee crisis in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation and to provide those seeking safety in Europe with safe legal alternatives to dangerous irregular journeys.

Meanwhile, Hungarian border police have intercepted more than 2,000 people crossing the border from Serbia every day this week. On Wednesday, police reported 3,241 new arrivals, including 700 children. This is the highest number in a single day so far this year.

Over 140,000 people have sought asylum in Hungary so far this year, according to the latest official statistics, compared to 42,000 people last year. Most of those applying for asylum are from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.

However, many refugees and migrants choose to leave Hungary for other countries in Europe. Every day up to 500 people sleep at the two main train stations in Budapest where volunteers look after their basic needs, including food, clothing and urgent medical attention, and where the city authorities give them access to sanitation facilities.

STORY: GENEVA / UNHCR TRUCK DEATHS

SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 28 AUGUST 2015, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
"This, we believe, underscores the ruthlessness of people smugglers who have expanded their business from the Mediterranean Sea to the highways of Europe. It shows they have absolutely no regard for human life and that they are only after profit. It also shows the desperation of people seeking protection or a new life in Europe. And their only means is to submit themselves to these criminals."
4. Wide shot, podium
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
"We do hope this incident will result in a strong cooperation among European police forces, intelligence agencies and international organisations to crack down on the smuggling trade while, at the same time, putting in place measures that will protect the victims."
6. Close up, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR):
"We reiterate our call on European countries to approach the refugee and the migrant crisis in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation and provide those seeking safety in Europe with safe legal alternatives to these dangerous irregular journeys."
8. Wide shots, journalists

DURATION: 01:24