Europe’s Migrant Crisis

What has been happening? In 2015 There has been a

massive increase in the number of migrants escaping hardship and traveling to Europe.

They hope that by arriving in Italy and Greece they will be able to move to a new life in Germany or Northern Europe

Criminal gangs have been charging thousands of Euros to help them cross the Mediterranean

The crossings are mostly on unsuitable boats and the criminal gangs don’t seem to care whether they live or die

Thousands have died – and Europe’s leaders seem unsure how to deal with this crisis

Where are they from?

The majority of migrants have been fleeing from Syria – which has been in a state of civil war for 4 years. However some are fleeing poverty and looking for a better life rather than actually

escaping persecution

Where do they go?

What are these people called? - MIGRANT

media (and this powerpoint) calls these people ‘migrants’ – A migrant is someone who moves from one country to another (When they arrive they become an immigrant)

REFUGEE

Any person who flees persecution or war can be counted as a refugee. When they arrive in a country they have to claim asylum (asylum seekers). If the government accepts they are fleeing persecution then they will become a refugee.

Britain then has an obligation to allow this person to stay in the UK

However

Refugees are expected to ‘claim asylum’ in the first safe country thy enter.

However – many migrants are refusing to claim asylum in Greece, Italy or Hungary. Instead they would prefer to do this in Germany or the UK.

ECONOMIC MIGRANT Some of the migrants can be classed as

economic migrants.

They are fleeing poverty (Often extreme poverty) but their life is not physically in danger.

The UK has no obligation to allow these people to stay.

However, many do (sometimes illegally)

Timeline of events In 2011 the Syrian

civil War begins – as many as 200,000 people have been killed

There has also been unrest in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya

In April over 100,000 people had crossed the Mediterranean.

Many boats were capsizing and European countries were asked to provide naval patrols

In August – thousands or migrants camped in Calais – they hoped to cross the English Channel into Europe

Channel Tunnel services were delayed and the UK government agreed to improve security

On 28th August – a lorry is discovered in Austria.

71 (including 4 children) Syrians (including 4 children) were found dead inside. They had suffocated when left by their trafficking gang

In September – The world is shocked by the following

pictures from Turkey

Aylan Kurdi was only 3 years old. He drowned along with his 5 year old brother Galip and their mother

Their father was also on the boat but was unable to save them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQgYFPbU9rQ

What about us? David Cameron has been criticised for not doing enough in this crisis

In August he said the answer was not to take in more refugees, but to sort out the problem which they are fleeing

On Friday he changed his policy – saying Britain would accept thousands of refugees – but from the camps just outside Syria, not from the thousands who have already escaped to Europe.

He hopes this will discourage others from making this dangerous crossing

On Monday David Cameron announced that Britain will take 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next 5 years

What do you think?

Should Britain accept more refugees?

On Tuesday the German Vice Chancellor suggested Germany could take 500,000 migrants a year until the emergency is over – should we follow suit

Why has one photograph changed peoples minds so much?