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. 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. Spain then has an obligation to allow this person to stay in our country

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. Spain has no obligation to allow these people to stay unless they fulfil the requirements established by the law 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

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 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? Many refugees come to Spain by boat or entering Ceuta and Melilla – scaling the fences protected with concertinas or razors to discourage illegal migration.

Spain has accepted around 9,000 refugees but only a small fraction of them has got the asylum permit

What do you think? Should Spain accept more refugees? Why has one photograph – Aylan´s-changed peoples minds so much?