On February 18, 2016, Emergency Humanitarian Relief Coordinator and UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O’Brien, welcomed guests to the United Nations in New York City for a special event entitled City Haven: People on the Move • Harboring the Displaced. The event highlighted the challenges and opportunities of responding to urban emergencies, including the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and the Syrian refugee crisis. It sought to change our perceptions of displaced people and propose new ways to ensure towns and cities are safe and inclusive places for all – including refugees and migrants. Referencing the urban context as it relates to both Sustainable Development Goal Number 11 and the UN Secretary-General’s five core responsibilities for the upcoming World Humanitarian Summit, O’Brien started the discussion by stating that, “we will commit to a concrete set of actions and commitments that will enable all – including member states, affected populations, civil society, and the private sector – to better prepare for and respond to crises, and to become more resilient to shocks.” In order to put these commitments in to practice, O’Brien announced that a new form of collaboration, the Global Alliance for Urban Crises, will be launched during a special session at the World Humanitarian Summit. The Alliance joins a diverse group of actors, who do not currently work together (including municipal authorities, urban professionals and humanitarian and development agencies) to deliver humanitarian responses in urban areas.

Europe Refugee Crisis: urgent action needed for protection of women and girls Women and girls fleeing conflict, violence and insecurity are finding unsafe and substandard living conditions as they arrive in Greece, transit through the Balkans and seek refuge and asylum in Europe. This policy brief outlines four recommendations for governments, donors, and humanitarian actors to implement to improve the safety and protection of women and girls in Europe.

The world’s richest continent is failing some of the world’s most vulnerable people. In the last two years, European governments have been unable or unwilling to agree a common humane response to people seeking refuge. This has resulted in the tragic loss of thousands of lives in the Mediterranean, a deplorable humanitarian situation in Europe, and women, men and children embarking on long and hazardous journeys through the continent.

Afghans represent 21 percent of the over one million refugees who have fled to Europe since January 2015. By labelling Afghanistan as not sufficiently ‘war-torn’ and discriminating against Afghans at various stages of their journey, Europe has created a hierarchy amongst different nationalities in search of protection. The situation inside Syria is dire, but Europe cannot ignore those of other nationalities who are also fleeing persecution and violence, and are in need of international protection. All nationalities must be granted their right to a fair and thorough status determination procedure based on their individual circumstances, and meaningful access to protection

Women and girls fleeing conflict, violence and insecurity are finding unsafe and substandard living conditions as they arrive in Greece, transit through the Balkans and seek refuge and asylum in Europe. The lack of consideration given to women and girls within the crisis response has serious implications for their safety and well-being. Organisations at the front lines of the refugee crisis report that women and children – who have made up 59% of arrivals in Greece since January 2016 – are experiencing serious and varied forms of gender-based violence, including rape and sexual exploitation.The international community has a responsibility to protect all women and girls, regardless of their immigration status, from gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation, and to provide life-saving assistance to those that have been subjected to such harm.

Flows of refugees into Europe show no sign of abating. In January 2016 alone, 65,775 men, women and children travelled treacherous seas to find sanctuary in Europe, more than in July last year. As a result of chronic conflict, persecution, and human rights abuses in origin countries, the UNHCR predicts 1 million will travel to Europe in 2016. Europe has shown itself to be ill-equipped to respond to this crisis. As a result of a lack of coordinated and humane response by Europe, thousands of refugees fleeing violence and persecution continue to lose their lives and their dignity. This is desperate situation and reflects a shamefully inadequate response. Addressing this challenge is not beyond reach, but European states must take urgent action now.

Proposed moves to bring in a new ‘one in-one out’ system between Greece and Turkey at the EU Council on 17-18 March has seen the UN raise concerns of its legality, but it also threatens to introduce more not fewer incentives for refugees, aided by smugglers, to attempt the dangerous journey across the Aegean. If the number of refugees the EU accepts is based on how many attempt the journey and are returned to Turkey, then Turkey – understandably eager for the EU to take more refugees – is incentivised to let the smuggling continue. We are also concerned about what happens to those people who are returned to Turkey, and then in turn potentially sent back from Turkey to their countries of origin. We seek assurances from the Turkish authorities, and from EU authorities, that all asylum seekers and refugees will be protected, and treated in a fair and humane way, and that no-one will be returned to a place where they are not safe.

Due to the lack of a humane response by Europe, thousands of refugees fleeing violence and persecution continue to lose their lives and their dignity. Last week the EU and Turkey reached an illogical and unethical deal that will only mean more indignity, more disorder, more dangerous journeys and more lives lost. This is a desperate situation. Addressing it is not beyond reach, but European states must take urgent action now.

More than 53,000 asylum seekers are now in need of urgent humanitarian and protection support in Greece. The illogical and unethical EU-Turkey deal has resulted in a European response to the refugee crisis that has detention and return at its heart. This deal only promotes further disorder and smuggling, and is resulting in inhumane treatment of thousands of refugees fleeing violence and persecution. Addressing this situation is not beyond reach, but European states must take urgent action now.

More than 53,000 desperate men, women and children in search of protection remain in Greece. The vast majority on the mainland are Syrian (45 percent), Iraqi (22 percent), and Afghan (21 percent). Unless European states take action now, a long-term refugee crisis, with thousands stranded living in camps, will unfold on European soil. Greece is receiving insufficient support to step up ineffectual asylum processing that currently hinges on registration via Skype. With the hot summer months approaching, difficult living conditions and an inadequate asylum system is a deeply concerning combination for thousands fleeing violence and persecution. Meanwhile, the illogical and unethical EU-Turkey deal is denying sufficient safe alternative pathways into Europe, and serving to promote dangerous journeys and smuggling.