11/14/2023 0 Comments Obn vox popoli 24.11.2015![]() These trends changed in 2015, when more and more people traveled via the eastern Mediterranean route and arrived in Greece, making it the top destination for migrants and refugees. In 2014, more than three quarters of people arrived in Italy. In fact, between 20, the number of people arriving by sea increased from 60,000 to 219,000 (a 265% increase). Increased numbers of refugees and migrants had been arriving at Europe’s Mediterranean coast since 2014. This meant people could claim asylum in Germany, as opposed to in the country where they first reached Europe (more on the EU’s asylum policies below). Another factor that increased the number of migrants and refugees was Germany’s announcement on Augthat it would suspend the Dublin Regulation for Syrian asylum seekers in Germany. This did not result in a rerouting of people, but rather an increase in the number of travellers via the various routes. License: CC BY-SA.Ĭoncurrently, routes to Western Europe via the Balkans were also becoming a viable option: they were cheaper and came recommended by smugglers paid to get people into Europe. Top countries of origin and most common migratory routes in 2015. ![]() ![]() In addition, political and social instability in Libya opened the door to increased human trafficking towards Europe. The situations in Afghanistan and Iraq were also becoming untenable as extremist groups such as the Taliban and Islamic State strengthened their grips on parts of the countries. Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, which by then already hosted four million Syrian refugees, were not ideal options given limited work, education and housing opportunities. After four years of a brutal civil war, many Syrians felt they could no longer risk their lives in the country. The uptick in people arriving in Europe was due to several factors. These countries were already home to family and community members of the countries of origin, which asylum seekers hoped would facilitate integration. The majority of refugees and migrants aimed to go to northern and western Europe, particularly Germany and Sweden, where reception and support facilities were deemed to be better. Most people landed on the shores of Italy and Greece, while others trekked from Turkey, through the Balkan states, into Hungary. Fifty percent of people came from Syria, followed by Afghanistan and Iraq. (For definitions of refugee, asylum seeker and migrant see here).That same year, almost 4,000 people went missing in the trajectory to Europe, with many presumed to have drowned in the Mediterranean. In 2015, a record 1,005,504 asylum seekers and migrants reached Europe in search of security and a better future.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |