Mark Ankerstein, the National Director of the UN Refugee Aid, has appealed to the German government to maintain an open door to refugees. He emphasized that Germany should not abandon the core principles of the Geneva Refugee Convention, to which the country is committed. “This convention is also intertwined with German history,” Ankerstein told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland”. He argued that people rightfully seek protection in Germany and there is no reason to portray this fact negatively. He added that Germany has always hosted people who were not born there, and this has never harmed the country.
As the CEO of the UN Refugee Aid, Ankerstein also reminded the government that Germany is part of the global community. Consequently, the nation should participate in finding worldwide solutions, particularly through financial contributions.
Furthermore, Ankerstein requested that refugee policies not be exploited during election campaigns. If the topic is debated during campaigns, he stressed that the discussion should be factual and avoid extreme emotionalism. He warned against using the issue of refugees as a source of fear. “This is not fair, and it discredits those who come to us seeking help with a legitimate claim to protection,” he stated.
It is important to note that the UN Refugee Aid is a partner of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), though the organization operates exclusively through private donations.
