-- This article was written in 2015, however I thought it would be relevant today --
In the last couple of months the number of refugees has grown enormously. However, the number of refugees which have been given accommodation in the European Union is very low. Most of the refugees are fleeing to neighboring countries and there they are outnumbering the original inhabitants (in Jordan for example one in every five civilians is a refugee). What will Europe do next? Welcome a large number of Syrians or help to build on an accommodation near their home country? Or both?
Merkel’s message “Wir schaffen das” (We can do this) is contrary to many of the European countries at the moment. Austria brings refugees with busses from the south-side of their country to the German border instead of creating accommodation for the refugees. Their claim is that the refugees do not want to go to Austria but explicitly said they are travelling on to Germany, they are only helping them.
Germany doesn’t want to cooperate in the battle with IS yet. They do give military support in the form of 1,200 people and jets which was not so long ago decided. The UK on the other hand has started throwing bombs on Syria since 3 december 2015.
On monday there was a roaring debate on this subject, here is one of the highlight of the night. Hilary Benn’s speech. On which I want to end this post because of the strength of his words, which are politically neutral and full of emotion:
Sources:
- http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/23/refugee-crisis-germany-push-compulsory-eu-quotas
- "Lebanon, Syria and the PLO." ECHO Factsheet – Lebanon: Syria Crisis(2015): 0-3. EU. Oct. 2015. Web. 23 Oct. 2015.