According to reports emanating from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, more than 135,000 migrants and refugees have landed in Europe in the first half of 2015. Like the Normans of yore, the refugees have come by boats. As per the HNHCR report, compared to the previous calendar year, the influx of refugees in the first 6 months of 2015 indicate a rise of more than 80%.
So as to reach European shores, these migrants and refugees have had to brave the perilous waters of the Mediterranean in mangy unsafe boats. As per the report, southern Europe has been hot particularly hard by their arrival in huge numbers.
“Desperate people resort to desperate measures and unfortunately ... the numbers are expected to continue to soar," said Brian Hansford, UNHCR’s spokesperson.
With the such huge influxes, European Union leaders are yet to hammer out a solution as to how best to solve this growing crisis involving migrants.
You do not get brownie points to figure out that Greece has been the largest source of these migrants and refugees. The handling of its economy has been making the headlines and it is headed for a default of its loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
As per the UNHCR report, migrants and refugees have been pouring in from the western Balkans. Their earlier trickle of 200 per week has grown into a torrential 1000 people per day.
Matteo Renzi, the Italian Prime Minister was furious with EU leaders for failure to allow 40,000 asylum-seekers entry into Europe and rebuked fellow European Union Leaders for going back on the agreed plan.
"As arrivals increase, the reception capacity and conditions remain seriously inadequate. This is a regional problem that needs a regional response and regional solidarity," said Brian Hansford.
Apart from Greece, Syria’s continuing civil war, since 2011, has also been a large source for the migrants and refugees. As per the report, 44,000 of them have come from Syria. Instability in Libya has also fuelled the migrations of the refugees. Eritrea and Afghanistan are the second and third largest contributors to this refugee imbroglio.
Although crossing the Mediterranean is treacherous, thanks to increased EU funding for rescue operations, the number of lives lost at sea has seen a decrease since May, says the report.
References:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/01/us-un-europe-refugees-idUSKCN0PB3JA20150701
So as to reach European shores, these migrants and refugees have had to brave the perilous waters of the Mediterranean in mangy unsafe boats. As per the report, southern Europe has been hot particularly hard by their arrival in huge numbers.
“Desperate people resort to desperate measures and unfortunately ... the numbers are expected to continue to soar," said Brian Hansford, UNHCR’s spokesperson.
With the such huge influxes, European Union leaders are yet to hammer out a solution as to how best to solve this growing crisis involving migrants.
You do not get brownie points to figure out that Greece has been the largest source of these migrants and refugees. The handling of its economy has been making the headlines and it is headed for a default of its loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
As per the UNHCR report, migrants and refugees have been pouring in from the western Balkans. Their earlier trickle of 200 per week has grown into a torrential 1000 people per day.
Matteo Renzi, the Italian Prime Minister was furious with EU leaders for failure to allow 40,000 asylum-seekers entry into Europe and rebuked fellow European Union Leaders for going back on the agreed plan.
"As arrivals increase, the reception capacity and conditions remain seriously inadequate. This is a regional problem that needs a regional response and regional solidarity," said Brian Hansford.
Apart from Greece, Syria’s continuing civil war, since 2011, has also been a large source for the migrants and refugees. As per the report, 44,000 of them have come from Syria. Instability in Libya has also fuelled the migrations of the refugees. Eritrea and Afghanistan are the second and third largest contributors to this refugee imbroglio.
Although crossing the Mediterranean is treacherous, thanks to increased EU funding for rescue operations, the number of lives lost at sea has seen a decrease since May, says the report.
References:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/01/us-un-europe-refugees-idUSKCN0PB3JA20150701
