During a press conference, MSF’s Secretary General Jérôme Oberreit said the decision was made in response to Europe’s “dangerous migration policies”. This decision will take effect immediately and will apply to MSF’s projects worldwide.
 
During a press conference and with subsequent press releases, the organization was strongly critical of Europe’s approach to how it handles the refugee flows, which has increased significantly in the last few months as violence affects millions in several countries such as Iraq, Libya, Syria, among other places in the Middle East and Africa.
 
The international medical humanitarian organization singled out the EU-Turkey refugee deal, which it has opposed since it was first announced, as a “shameful” arrangement.
 
“This is really about Europe’s refugee shame” Mr. Oberreit said, adding: “The main focus of the response [to refugees] in Europe has been to stop people from coming”.
 
MSF called for a “dramatic shift” in policy from pushing back refugees to a focus on protecting and assisting them. It also said there was “nothing remotely humanitarian” about the EU-Turkey deal.
 
“The EU-Turkey deal goes one step further and has placed the very concept of “refugee” and the protection it offers in danger” MSF’s Secretary General said.
 
The charity accused the EU of “instrumentalising” aid funding to reduce migration.