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Six proposed solutions for the EU refugee crisis
From welcoming more asylum seekers to buying an island for them, here are the top ideas being mooted for tackling the migrant crisis
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A Syrian refugee woman walks in Zattari Syrian refugee camp, Mafraq city, Jordan Photo: JAMAL NASRALLAH/EPA
10:53AM BST 04 Sep 2015
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European politicians are rushing
to deal with the refugee crisis after the human cost was tragically
underlined by the heart-breaking image of Aylan Kurdi’s body being carried from a Turkish beach.
How can countries help the refugees? Here are the solutions currently being proposed.
1. Share 160,000 asylum seekers around Europe
Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president, is working on plans
to redistribute 160,000 refugees who arrive in Italy, Greece and
Hungary, forcing countries to take in migrants, even if they do not
agree. An EU source told The Times: “The politics have changed - there is opposition but it is a minority now. Binding quotas are needed.”
• How many Syrians have applied for asylum in Europe?
Germany, France and Italy support the idea, although a bloc of countries unhappy with quotas - including Bulgaria, Romania and Spain - face being outvoted over the proposals at an emergency meeting of EU interior ministers on September 14. Britain, Denmark and Ireland will not have to take any refugees under EU treaty opt-outs.
It is Mr Juncker’s second attempt to convince national governments that they need to spread the burden of refugees more evenly across the bloc. He previously suggested EU countries take a share of 40,000 migrants and refugees.
"You have dozens of islands which are deserted and could accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees...[as] temporary shelters to house the people, then you start employing the people to build housing, schools, universities, hospitals," he told AFP News.
Mr Sawiris will find easy support from Israeli property billionaire Jason Buzi, who recently floated his idea for a "Refugee Nation". "Many solutions are being sought for crises, both man-made and natural, it is shocking to find how few permanent solutions are being proposed," he wrote in the Telegraph. "We have a humanitarian and moral duty to try to alleviate the tremendous suffering of refugees."
Others have been suggested similar ideas, like professor David Laitin, who wrote in the New York Times that refugees could settle in Detroit and revive the ailing city.
Mr Abbott has urged Europe to follow his example, saying in April that it was the only way to stop migrants and refugees drowning at sea. "That's why it is so urgent that the countries of Europe adopt very strong policies that will end the people-smuggling trade across the Mediterranean," he added.
The idea has attracted support, with Ukip leader Nigel Farage giving it his backing. However, the proposal garnered particular notoriety when Katie Hopkins called for "gunships" to halt boats from crossing the Mediterranean just a day after hundreds of migrants were killed off the Sicilian coast.
"To that end, Britain spends more than the rest of Europe put together," The Telegraph pointed out in its leader.
Home Office/Federal Ministry of the Interior
The number of applications received by Germany this year has rocketed up to 44,417. The country had 41,100 applications from Syrians in 2014,
giving asylum to 31,565 of them, at an approval rate of 76.8 per cent.
Germany has given asylum to 38,180 Syrians between 2011 and 2014, vastly
more than the number given asylum by Britain since 2011 (5,102).
And so one idea is to fly them over as temporary refugees so their cases can be examined, and they won't need to risk their lives on boats.
"A flight would be less expensive and infinitely less risky," François Dufour writes in the Telegraph. "The common sense solution is to grant them refugee or protected person status in situ."
Germany, France and Italy support the idea, although a bloc of countries unhappy with quotas - including Bulgaria, Romania and Spain - face being outvoted over the proposals at an emergency meeting of EU interior ministers on September 14. Britain, Denmark and Ireland will not have to take any refugees under EU treaty opt-outs.
It is Mr Juncker’s second attempt to convince national governments that they need to spread the burden of refugees more evenly across the bloc. He previously suggested EU countries take a share of 40,000 migrants and refugees.
2. Buy an island to house the refugees
Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris has put forward his own proposal - buying a Mediterranean island to allow refugees a temporary shelter until a longer-term solution is found. Mr Sawiris, who is considering approaching the governments of Greece and Italy, admitted on Twitter that his idea was "crazy", but later insisted it was "feasible"."You have dozens of islands which are deserted and could accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees...[as] temporary shelters to house the people, then you start employing the people to build housing, schools, universities, hospitals," he told AFP News.
Mr Sawiris will find easy support from Israeli property billionaire Jason Buzi, who recently floated his idea for a "Refugee Nation". "Many solutions are being sought for crises, both man-made and natural, it is shocking to find how few permanent solutions are being proposed," he wrote in the Telegraph. "We have a humanitarian and moral duty to try to alleviate the tremendous suffering of refugees."
3. The Australian solution
Australian prime minister Tony Abbott's hardline "stop the boats" policy has proven controversial, with naval gunboats being sent out to turn back asylum seekers before they reach the country. Australia bans asylum seekers from settling in the country, and instead holds them in offshore centres, where they are given the option of being resettled in Cambodia.Mr Abbott has urged Europe to follow his example, saying in April that it was the only way to stop migrants and refugees drowning at sea. "That's why it is so urgent that the countries of Europe adopt very strong policies that will end the people-smuggling trade across the Mediterranean," he added.
4. Give more
Stephen O'Brien, the United Nations' aid chief, has urged wealthy countries to increase how much they give in international aid so that refugees are not forced to seek safety in Europe."To that end, Britain spends more than the rest of Europe put together," The Telegraph pointed out in its leader.
5. Be like Germany and help more people
Germany has opened its doors, with Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, saying all Syrian asylum seekers are welcome to remain in Germany. This has seen the number of asylum applications received by Germany from soar. In 2011, when the Syrian civil war broke out, Germany received 2,634 applications, more than Britain has received so far this year (2,475).Compared: Syrian asylum applications to UK and Germany
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6. Fly them over here to stop them risking their lives
Under the Geneva Convention, Europe is duty-bound to protect any "person owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion".And so one idea is to fly them over as temporary refugees so their cases can be examined, and they won't need to risk their lives on boats.
"A flight would be less expensive and infinitely less risky," François Dufour writes in the Telegraph. "The common sense solution is to grant them refugee or protected person status in situ."
Refugee crisis: five ways to make a difference
An estimated 2,500 people have died or gone missing while trying to
cross the Mediterranean, according to the UN. From Syria alone, around 4
million people have fled their home country - one sixth of the
population - since the conflict began in 2011. As politicians continue
to debate, here are a few practical things you can do.
1. Donate Money
A number of charities are on the ground in conflict-ridden areas and trying to help people on the move
Migrant Offshore Aid Station, which provides search and rescue boats, and provides crucial help to migrants travelling by sea.
Save the Children, which is getting essential provisions to children who need them.
Red Cross Europe, which has set up emergency services at key train stations in Europe.
Refugee Action, which helps asylum seekers navigate the system and get support.
Save the Children, which is getting essential provisions to children who need them.
Red Cross Europe, which has set up emergency services at key train stations in Europe.
Refugee Action, which helps asylum seekers navigate the system and get support.
2. Volunteer your time
By helping refugees in your area
The campaign group Avaaz has set up volunteer groups to
allow British residents to help asylum seekers in their local area.
From language help, to lobbying to helping people find accommodation,
you can offer whatever you can. Sign up here
3. Make your voice heard
Protests, petitions and people power
There is this petition aimed at getting government to debate the crisis. Or this Save the Children petition, aimed at putting pressure on Europe.
If protesting in person is what you prefer, demonstrations are being held across England. To name just a few: 4th September in Manchester, 5th September in Cambridge or 12th September in London and Dover. More info here on this “Refugees Welcome UK” Facebook Group.
If protesting in person is what you prefer, demonstrations are being held across England. To name just a few: 4th September in Manchester, 5th September in Cambridge or 12th September in London and Dover. More info here on this “Refugees Welcome UK” Facebook Group.
4.Donate other supplies
...if you're short of money and/or time
Or from your sofa, you can buy everything from sleeping bags to coats and get them delivered to Greece and Calais,via this Amazon wishlist which is open until 17th September
Books: send them to The Jungle Library, which has been set up at Calais for those stuck in the “Jungle” for weeks, or even months, at a time. The Big Green Bookshop in north London is taking donations.
Musical instruments: if you have any knocking around, Music Against Borders is helping get old instruments to migrants stuck in Calais. More info on the group’s Facebook page.
Books: send them to The Jungle Library, which has been set up at Calais for those stuck in the “Jungle” for weeks, or even months, at a time. The Big Green Bookshop in north London is taking donations.
Musical instruments: if you have any knocking around, Music Against Borders is helping get old instruments to migrants stuck in Calais. More info on the group’s Facebook page.
5.Volunteer your home
Get in touch with the UK's No Accommodation Network
The No Accommodation Network, or NACCOM, is an umbrella
organisation that has all the details for housing associations, NGOs and
shelters, organised by area.
. Via the website, and the local organisations listed, you can find out if there are any refugees in your area who need a temporary home
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