Over the past year the European Union has faced its biggest refugee crisis since World War II. According to Eurostat figures from 2015, more than 1.25 million first time asylum-seekers applied for international protection across the EU’s 28 member states — more than double that of the previous year.
This current wave of refugees is mainly the result of political instability in the EU’s immediate neighborhood, and as the Syria crisis enters into its sixth year it is likely that similar numbers of refugees will continue to attempt the often dangerous journey into the EU in 2016.
Population growth in some of the poorest countries in Africa and the Middle East could be described as another “push factor” for people to leave their own country and seek opportunities elsewhere. With the world population set to rise to 9.7 billion by 2050, and Africa likely to see its population double by 2050 to 2.4 billion, access to resources and land loss through climate change will likely force many people to migrate.
About the author
Daphne Davies
Daphne Davies is a London-based freelance journalist and consultant with more than 30 years' experience in international development. She has worked with the U.N., the European Union, national governments and global civil society organizations, including Amnesty, WWF and LDC Watch. Her expertise is in monitoring government policies in relation to international cooperation. Her interests are in sustainability, social and economic matters, women and least developed countries.
