BERLIN
German President Joachim Gauck has called on the government on Thursday to take on additional Syrian refugees.
“In the face of this humanitarian catastrophe we can do more," Gauck said during his visit to the refugee camp in Friedland, in the north city of Goettingen.
Gauck has met Syrian refugees at the camp and listened to their personal stories.
German President has underlined the need for stronger support for the refugees and praised Turkey and Jordan for their efforts by hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrians.
Despite the large scale of the tragedy in Syria, German government has offered temporary asylum to 5,000 Syrian refugees. Around 1,000 Syrians, most of them women and children, have so far arrived to the country.
Germany’s CDU/CSU led coalition government had long been criticized by the opposition for not taking in more Syrian refugees. Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich has turned down repeated calls from the opposition to increase the number of Syrian refugees to be accepted to the country.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
