Migration is the movement of people from one place to another, because of economic, social, political or environmental reasons. There are various forms of migration, and these depend on the number of people involved, the reasons for their movement, the time they spend in migration and the nature of that migration.
There are two main types of migration: internal migration and international migration. Internal migration is meant by changing habitation within national boundaries, such as between states, provinces, cities, or municipalities – the person doesn’t leave its own country. International migration is meant by changing residence over national boundaries, in other words, leave the country.
A migrant is a person who moves within their own country or from one country to another, usually in order to find work, or for some other reasons such as joining to their family. Some move voluntarily and others are forced to leave because of economic hardship or other problems.
Most international migrants live in Europe (72 million) followed by Asia (71 million) and North America (53 million) – taken from Amnesty International .
In 2001, Jay Weinsten and Vijayan Pillai denoted a third classification of migration which is forced migration. Forced migration is when a person is moved against their will or when the move is initiated because of external factor (natural disaster or civil war), which is the case of refugees.
A refugee is a person who has left their own country because they suffered human rights abuses or because of whom they are or what they believe in. Their own government cannot or will not protect them and so they are forced to seek international protection.
An asylum seeker is someone who has left their country in search of international protection, but is yet to be recognized as a refugee.
It all started in 2011, when the “Arabic Spring” happened, and it took down several dictatorial regimes in the Middle East, and then, a civil war was created. ISIS (a jihadist military group) took advantage of the social and political confusion to gain strength and power, and now they are one of the most potent terrorist groups.
The Syria’s population became trapped between the Assad’s regime army, rebel groups and extremists. With a population of almost 22 million people in 2011, more than 12 million people moved and from those 12 million, 4 million were forced to leave the country. 95% of the refugees fled to countries situated near (neighboring countries), such as Turkey (1.5 million), Lebanon (1.1 million), Jordan (600 thousand) and Egypt (142 thousand).
The World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations (UN) weren’t prepared to that situation. The refugees were sheltered in precarious camps, in very difficult conditions. Faced with the huge flow of refugees, some European countries refused to accept and closed their eyes to the situation.
The public opinion mobilized when a picture of a Syrian boy was made public and turned viral. Aylan died, joining the other 2500 dead people trying to cross the Mediterranean. Finally, in 2014, all UE accepted 420 thousand refugees. In 2015, Germany accepted to receive 800 thousand. (See Appendix, Figure 1)
In 20 years, about 31500 migrants died trying to reach Europe. They died for reasons such as: drowning, hunger or cold, poisoning, homicide, lack of care, suicide and asphyxia. (See Appendix, Table 1)
Portugal decided to host 5000 refugees, which corresponds to 0.05% of the Portuguese population.
IS THE CHRISTIAN EUROPE IN DANGER? “ISLAMIZATION” IN EUROPE?
This is an unfounded idea. Europe is the homeland of Human Rights, Freedom and Tolerance. In its womb it has, apart from Christian roots, Greek influences, Jewish and Muslim, among many others. It is also the cradle of atheism. The Muslim European citizens give a really positive contribute for our society, whether in cultural, religious, social and economic terms.
In 11st of September 2001, when the Twin Towers crashed in New York, Islam became the synonym of terrorism and Muslims were reduced to the status of enemies.
Closing the doors to refugees because they consist in a “threat” is to accept being hostage of Daesh, that enslaves and violates children, decapitate the impious and destroy the pagan patrimony of humanity.
It is the duty of journalists and of society in general to give voice to the ones who break stereotypes. Everyone remembers about 9/11, and about what happened to Charlie Hebdo in Paris. But how many have already heard that Jemal Rahman offered as prisoner to Al-Shabab terrorists to try save an Ethiopian Christian friend of him. He did that because he thought that if a Muslim was among the captives, the kidnappers would have some mercy, but that didn’t happen and they both died. How many would be willing to sacrifice themselves for a Muslim?
WHAT DOES POPE FRANCIS SAY?
“Anyway, I want to say that Europe became conscious. And I thank them. I thank the European countries who have become aware of this. I congratulate them, I appreciate what they are doing, and I give them a piece of advice: on Judgment Day, we already know over what we will be judged on – it’s written in Matthew Chapter 25 when Jesus tells them “I was hungry, did you give me food? And they are going to say “Yes.” And when I was without shelter, as a refugee, did you help me? “Yes.” I congratulate them. They’re going to pass the test.”
Apart from the religious difference, Pope Francis totally supports the aid that Europe is giving to refugees, even if they are Muslim, Jewish or even if they don’t believe in God. Help should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of their religion.
WHY SHOULD WE HELP THE REFUGEES IF THERE IS SO MUCH POVERTY IN PORTUGAL?
The help to the poor is assured, in addition to Social Security, with various social benefits offered by solidarity institutions represented by CNIS , and religious institutions such as “Cáritas” or the Islamic Community. When referring to homeless people, 2 of the main organizations that support those people are “Comunidade de Vida e Paz” and “CAIS”. So it is obvious that organizations are well-established to take care of poor people as well as homeless people, so the work of taking care of them will continue, without being impaired by hosting refugees.
“SO REFUGEES HAVE CELLPHONES?”
Most people think that refugees aren’t poor and don’t need help just because they have smartphones. In fact, Syria isn’t a rich country, but it is also not a poor country. In Portugal, there are 15 cellphones in 10 people (according to the CIA World Fact Book – 2014). The Arabic revolution thrived because of cellphones and social networks.
A cellphone is essential for someone who goes on holidays: they can access maps, information about restaurants and hotels, they can communicate with other people and ask suggestions about where they should go. In the same way, refugees can access maps, information about trains and support centers, they can keep in touch with their family and friends who are at their home country or find people that crossed the Mediterranean and got lost.
Europe has experienced the greatest mass movement of people since the Second World War.
Migrants are mostly from Syria, but the ongoing violence in Afghanistan and Iraq, abuses in Eritrea and the poverty in Kosovo has made people leave their countries to find a better future for themselves. (See Appendix, Figure 2)
The majority of migrants arrived by sea, although some made overland journeys, mainly via Turkey and Albania. More than a million migrants arrived by sea in 2015, compared with around 34000 by land. (See Appendix, Figure 3)
The EU has dedicated over 10 billion from the EU budget to dealing with the refugee crisis in 2015 and 2016. Many people arrive in the EU needing basic things such as clean water, food and shelter. The EU is financing projects to address the most urgent humanitarian needs of the 50000 refugees and migrants hosted in Greece as of May 2016. The EU also provides humanitarian aid to refugees and migrants in countries outside the EU, such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
The EU has increased its capacity to carry out search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean and to block criminal and illegal networks. By increasing the available resources, it helped save over a quarter of a million lives in 2015. The EU Member States agreed in June 2016 to establish a new European Border and Coast Guard to reinforce the management and security of the EU’s common external borders. The European Police Office has opened a new European Migrant Smuggling Centre to support EU Member States in undoing criminal networks involved in organized migrant trafficking.
The EU has set up reception centres in Greece and Italy to help the authorities in these countries to manage the migration flows. It has also sent experts to help register people arriving and to coordinate the return of some migrants to their country of origin.
EU leaders have reached a deal with Turkey aimed to solving the migration crisis. The deal included Turkey taking back all migrants who enter Greece illegally, including Syrians. And in return, the EU is to take in Syrian refugees directly from Turkey, increase aid for Syrians there, accelerate Turkey’s EU membership process and introduce their early visa-free travel.
The truth is, at the beginning, Europe saw the migration crisis starting but never imagined that it would grow so much. They first ignored it, but eventually, they came to their senses and they knew that they needed to take some action to help the situation. Europe ended up opening their arms to refugees by accepting their entrance. Since then, more and more refugees and getting settled in Europe, and European countries are trying to make their best to give them the best conditions and to give them the life they were expecting when they chose to leave their own countries. Of course, that help will continue to be given more and more as time passes, until refugees can start their lives freshly in their new countries. So, in the end, we are a Europe that saves, that helps and supports, we are not a Europe that lets die.