EU Parliament To Relocate 120,000 Refugees from Hungary, Greece and Italy

In an emergency vote, the European Parliament has decided to relocate 120,000 refugees from Italy, Greece and Hungary, saying they are in clear need of international protection, and lifting the pressure from these countries, which have been flooded with thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war.

Practical steps will be taken in the next few weeks, said the European Commission.

In Cyprus, a group of citizens called “Cypriots Helping Syrian Refugees” (CHSR), under the auspices of former First Lady and EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, have set up groups in all towns to co-ordinate the collection of items desperately needed by refugees arriving in Greece with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

The goal is to fill a container for shipment to the island of Kos, where many refugees are arriving every day.

WHO: Former First Lady and EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou, Nicosia Mayor Konstantinos Yiorkatzis, and the Head of the EU Representation in Cyprus, George Markopouliotis, will join the volunteers sorting and packing at 11.00 am.

WHAT: Sorting and packing donated items ready for shipment to Greece.

WHEN: Tuesday September 22nd 10.00 hrs – 12.00 hrs (Press conference at 11.00 hrs)

WHERE: Shop 21, lower ground floor, City Plaza, Makarios Avenue, Nicosia.

SPONSORS: Nicosia Municipality, Lordos Contracta/City Plaza, Orbit Moving and Storage, Gap Akis Express

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CypriotsHelpingSyrianRefugees/

Drop-off points: Nicosia: Shop 21 lower ground floor, City Plaza, Makarios Avenue. Contact Rosie: 99666011 Larnaca: Contact: Louise: 96736838

Limassol: AV Solutions, 30 Spyrou Kyprianou, 4045 Germasogeia. Opposite Carrefour. Open 09.00-18.00 Mon to Fri. Contact: Amy: 97661996 or Nikki: 99080118

Paphos: El Paso Kiosk. On the road from Geroskipou to the Limassol highway. Contact: Petros Mavros: 99217165

As well as clothes, which should be clean and in good condition, the following items will be accepted at CHSR drop-off points: - Back packs - Sleeping bags - Baby carrying slings/pushchairs - Shoes/trainers and socks - Toys (balls, dolls, cars, drawing materials, colouring books, etc.) - Diapers - Sanitary towels - Soap - Tooth paste and tooth brushes - Baby wipes - Talc/baby powder, cream for babies - Powdered milk for babies and children

Crisis escalates

The Syrian refugee crisis is getting worse, amid the ongoing civil war in Syria, and escalating military activity on the Turkish border, where there is fighting between Turkish and Kurdish forces.

Russia has started intervening more in the conflict in Syria and has set up an airbase at Latakia airport, according to a report from Al-Monitor, earning a warning from the US, which is carrying out airstrikes against ISIS terrorists.

Russia supports President Assad's tenuous grip on power, but risks going head-to-head with the US and UK, both of which have sanctioned the country not least because it absorbed the Crimea into the Russian Federation.

Between Syria and the Crimea, there are the seeds of a serious conflict between world powers just on Cyprus' doorstep.