Denmark considers Syria’s Latakia “safe” for refugees’ return
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Denmark considered on Friday Latakia Governorate, on the Syrian coast, safe for Syrian refugees to return to, raising concerns at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Danish Refugee Appeals Board said, in a statement, that improved security in Latakia made it safe for refugees to return.
In 2019, the Danish immigration service similarly announced the government-held areas of Damascus and Rif Damascus as safe zones, causing a stir.
The UNHCR spokeswoman called Denmark’s decision “concerning” and said that improving the security situation in Syria is not enough “to justify ending international protection for any group of refugees”.
Latakia has additionally been ravaged by the earthquakes on Feb. 6. In the region of Latakia alone, 806 people were killed, while more than 15.000 buildings were damaged. Around 2.267 families of those displaced now live in 29 accommodation shelters, according to Latakia’s governor, Amer Hilal.
Around 142.000 people have been affected by the quake. The government has deemed both regions “disaster areas.”
On March 13, Human Rights Watch (HRW), an NGO, called out the Danish immigration service’s labeling of the government-controlled areas of Latakia and Tartus as “safe” for refugees to return to.