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CIVIL UNREST IN Syria has sparked the biggest global displacement crisis in over two decades and a heated debate among European leaders over how many of the thousands of refugees to take in.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has championed a quota system for EU countries rehoming refugees while Britain has resisted taking any more than 20,000 Syrian refugees over five years.
As the politicians squabble it’s worth keeping in mind the huge distances migrants travel to get to Europe through Africa and the Middle East, along well-worn routes.
These graphics from Reuters put that in perspective. They also show how central Turkey and Greece are to the migrants’ routes (green lines). The countries act like bottlenecks.
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Once they get to the shore of the Mediterranean, the journey gets even more dangerous and deadly. Last year more than 3,000 migrants died trying to cross.
The migrants aim for the mainland mostly, hitting Spain, France and Italy but avoiding Sardinia, right in the middle of the sea.
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Migrants from West Africa, Mainly Ghana and Nigeria , Both strong wealthy economies seeking “Asylum”in Ireland , I wish people would wake up to what’s going on , Europe has become so PC and open to exploitation of welfare that we are a worldwide joke
What do you mean , sure were all just being paranoid sure … The vast majority of the refugees in the Mediterranean are women and children according to the Journals sources and sure there all from Syria fleeing conflict according to the journals conflict . Its grand lads our sources which is basically Mohammad O’Murphy counting 5 people in a minivan are the facts and the United Nations are full of it and lying
sure isn’t it what the people want!!! Claire Byrnes poll confirmed it on the telly other night, a couple of thousand over all protested in a few towns, loads of people pretended to offer their beds, its what the people want.
100,000 protested against IW, but its not what the people want!
Put it to the people of Ireland, we will tell you what we want. Down now with your controlled dictatorship.
These countries are wealthy but the people are not, similar to Scotland the are resource rich but economically poor because there resources have been stolen and plundered by the west. They are still paying interest on loans to European countries after they had the “privilege” of being colonised by them.
Niamh, Ireland did not “colonize” those countries.
How many have mega rich Saudi Arabia offered to take in? To me all the pressure on Europe is a little unfair when Arab nations are unwilling to open their borders
Lebanon and Turkey are baring the brunt of it. They are Muslim countrys.
I’m very conflicted about this. On one hand that photo of that child would break your heart and I feel those who are fleeing Isis and Assad should be helped. I also feel that with the flow of people coming it seems to be impossible to monitor and track those arriving. Isis have threatened to come so is enough being done to make sure they’re not?
Em as you might see if you looked at the map shown above,many of these migrants are coming from Africa
You Irish are a bit silly, u won’t help your own homeless but want to adopt some Muslim strangers, a cold people
you east Europeans got all the financial aid after ww2 , and look at you b@tching now , Hungary for example is an absolute disgrace how they threat refugees like animals , yet thousands have come here for work , disgusting!
Is this why you guys drink so much? To warm you up to your own kind!
I personally have been to many many countries, I’ve never seen so many down and out homeless people in a capital city with no one looking to help them out
Are you a happy economic migrant here Veronika? Were you made welcome? would you like to go home and free up resources here?
But then you all tell the world you want 100 no 2,000 no 5,000 , noooo at least 5,000 Muslim and African migrants, while Europe are looking and saying who are the Irish trying to impress, they have nothing to give, I personally feel future pity for the migrants who actually make it here as they will be on the street with the rest
“Pressure on Europe”, “Arab nations unwilling to open borders”…There’s 1.5 million refugees in Jordan (which refugees hit before Saudi Arabia). They’ve built “cities” in weeks to help those fleeing the conflict, let’s try not to ignore that…
Homelessness is a massive problem in Ireland. So are hospital beds. So are potholes. So are our centre midfield pairings. None of these have anything to do with refugees.
Would a refugee accept accommodation and assistance anywhere in Ireland right now – yes. Would the majority of Dublin’s homeless who either won’t go to shelters or simply can’t be let in because they’re in too bad of a state accept accommodation somewhere else in Ireland? Not a hope! The two issues aren’t related. Dublin City centre is currently riddled with homeless people in the morning, but 90% of them are “out of it”. They need help, but they need a hell of a lot more assistance than just a place to stay.
I’m not excusing Saudi Arabia btw, just saying that blanketly saying Arab nations is hardly a fair assessment.
It’s all a resource issue, and Ireland ain’t got the resources to even house their own folk, 1000% increase in the housing shortage I read on this site since 2012, lol but we want trainloads\boatloads of Muslims and Africans so we look like saints to Europe and the world, I think you are deluded over here :) there is a strange disconnect
Go home
@Veronika
And what countries would that be where are no homeless people?
The promised land?
We opened our border very early for Eastern Europeans and it worked out well!
Unfortunately many of these are now turning against refugees and conveniently forgot how we let them immigrate for purely economical reasons so they could leave the cess pits they were coming from!
Are you afraid that the refugees going to take your job or your house?
Or where does that primitive hatred come from?
Off you go now and flip some burgers!
I’m just a fascinated observer, here for a short while and providing some feedback to the masses. The last country I was living in had its own unique set of issues, but Ireland is remarkably unique for its delusive qualities, sorry for saying it like it is on here, I just think you need a long hard look at yourself in the mirror, though I’m not sure you can actually see what is staring back at you, perhaps you need to study the Nordic countries and do comparative analysis between say Norway and Ireland, or any of the others up there really, to see where you guys are really at in the world
@Veronika
Thanks for not answering my question!
Those many countries you supposedly lived in must be very secretive when you are not even allowed to name them.
Lots of problems in Easter European countries by the way, should you not be in your native country helping out there instead of observing the Irish?
And what wonderful eastern utopia are you from veronika that keeps you on the move around free western countries, not the wonderful Russia? home to the oppressed masses where having an opinion will get you killed. Sad sack!
Veronika , you are spot on the liberal lefties like Matt look at this entirely subjectively , how they feel etc , it’s past time they looked at it objectively , we know these people are almost demanding where they want to go , we can guarantee the growth of immigrant ghettoes and that hasn’t worked out well throughout Europe ,
Matt, I’ve never been this this place Easter? Do you mean Easter Island, now there is a Utopia I’d like to see although I do know those guys had a rough time of it and nearly died out so probably not the best example of a Utopia
@Mike
I’m not even a leftie and certainly do not want open borders and uncontrolled mass immigration!
I just think we need to help these people somehow!
And I’m strongly opposed to all these hate mongering fools with their fascist attitude!
Furthermore I think it is a bit rich when Eastern European economic immigrants now try to lecture us on how to handle immigration!
The majority of Eastern European immigrants still work on minimum wages jobs, stick to themselves and have not particularly enriched our culture!
@Veronika
Cheap shot!
Do you really want me to point out your weaknesses concerning the English language?
Its clear Matt you don’t know what you are , we voted to allow Eastern Europeans into the EU , if you think they haven’t integrated what in heavens name do you think these hordes of Muslims will do , I am really concerned how this will damage our country , Veronika suggests you check out Oslo , Malmo and have a look at the ‘contribution ‘ Muslims have made , it ain’t pretty , but I am afraid that the left are incapable of seeing the writing on the wall , the ‘rights ‘ that we enjoy were hard won , you need be very careful what you invite into our society , the Danes have only recently realised what harm they have done with their liberal attitude to immigration , we need to learn the hard lesson learned in Europe about the failure of Multiculturalism
@Mike
I don’t think they haven’t integrated, I said before it worked out well but there is a difference between integrating and enrich the Irish culture.
I don’t want mass immigration into Ireland not Muslims not Christians not atheists! I just want to help in this humanitarian crisis and I do not think it will do any harm to take a few thousand in!
Jane. That little boy in the photo was safe and happy in Turkey. All because is father wanted free dental work in Germany he is now dead. And the biggest irony of that whole situation was his father felt it so safe that he could return to his home in Syria to bury his family.
Veronika. I’m Irish and agree with most of what you are saying. Every street corner of dublin city center has homeless person standing on it and nobody seems to have any interest in helping them. I heard after a homeless man unfortunately died accross from gov buildings a while back there was a protest in anger. Less than 100 turned up. But when there is a war the other side of the world people are offering houses and beds indefinitely without thinking it through. We don’t even have enough beds in our hospitals for God’s sake and waiting times over a year! We have over 62 billion in debt to pay back.
You are wasting your time arguing with some of the half brains here as they refuse reasoning
Matt, feel free to school me in your Hibernian English, Im always open to learning new phrases but I’ve still never been to Easter island, have you? Merkler, thanks for your input, 62 billion you say. The plot thickens! That must be a large percentage of the Irish GDP, how’s that work?
Matt, I’d be interested to know what integration is as far as you are concerned; should the Eastern European in Ireland have their own GAA team? What are they doing that’s so different to you in this melting pot?
Think of it as a loan you never took out but you, your children and your children’s children will pay back
And will the refugees children and children’s children have to pay?
Merkel , 1500 hospital beds are continuing being occupied by people with alcohol related sickness , that is roughly 25% of all available beds , you left that bit out in your rant.
@Veronika
Well for a start I wouldn’t lecture my host country on how to run it’s internal and external affairs!
@Veronika
If they stay they will have to contribute to society, so the answer is yes!
Yes? So they will create a polski county so the 150,000 irish poles can support their GAA county??
@Veronika
No, not to that GAA thing but yes to your question if the refugees children will pay for it!
Why do you actually think you are in a position to lecture us on who we should let in and who not?
Are you some kind of renowned expert on immigration issues?
Did the Irish people asked for your opinion?
If I waited to be asked for my opinion I’d be an unemployed lost individual like many of my deriders on here
How about trying the legal route for a change?
We as Europeans have no idea what we are letting our selfs in for … oh to have the foresight to live our lives in hindsight.
It’s time for World Leaders to try sort out the problems on the African Continent that cause multi thousands of people to seek some sort of El Dorado in Europe. Better for everyone if they did, otherwise we are heading into serious culture clashes. The crazy situation we have now has got to stop. A destabilised Europe will be of no help to anyone.
they were the ones whose policies destabilized the north of africa and the middle east and created this mess. problem reaction solution.
look at how staged that photo is above. what they just landed in front of a set-up camera crew in their new 15k dinghy?
however it works out well for those at the top ………………………something to consider right now ttip and other trade deals are going full steam ahead and are getting damn all attention. everyone is busy talking about the crisis and are ignoring what caused the crisis…………………NATO, saudi and israeli wars of aggression based on lies.
Europe will shortly be reduced to a warzone, from end to end.
It will be Christian militias Vs. Muslim militias, just like the war in the Balkans,
And the super rich will get even richer, and the politicians will collect their 30 pieces of silver.
Time to arm up & batten down the hatches folks…!!
Absolutely talking out of your behind. Atheism is the fastest growing train of thought (not belief system) in Europe. The children of these migrants and the religious will have access to the Internet. They will become educated and (I hope) realize all religions are a farse.
Utter farcical nonsense Francie.
Interesting Simon how you don’t perceive the ingredients for how most wars and conflicts start. There’s enough history here to understand much of that. Europe is dying, aided and abetted by the usual Goons we vote in. Thirty years on and the conflict may certainly raise its ugly head, civil unrest its an inevitability under such circumstances, only takes one ejit whose designed his own uniform.
Francie i think you are right, there always need to be somebody to blame, first was church, then emigrants, isis and finally muslims, gouvernment act like doesnt represent its own people and everything to turn your attention to minor problems and behind your backs steal as much public monney as they can. I would send all that migrants to US as they are responsible for that crisis!
@Francie
There is tinfoil hat sale at your local Woody’s this weekend.
I thought you might be interested!
Nice ad-hominem there Matt. I guess you’ve got nothing in the way of a substantive argument.
@ Deborah, – “access to the internet”…?? – like the IS. hackers & jihadis….??
@ Simon, – no intelligent response…??
@ Matt, – Ad Hominem, – when you have nothing intelligent to say. First learn, then speak.
Deep down, you must surely realise that I’m correct in what I say, – study history, or repeat it…
why Deborah, have they no internet access in the middle east? lol
great theories, predictions on here. nostradamus would be proud. you could almost think that we have proof of multi-culturism working amongst muslim and christian communities, but we don’t. after all the migration to europe, we still don’t. now ain’t that something. its good though i guess to keep hoping, everything will be ok.
@Francie
I wouldn’t even know where to start ripping your paranoid and deluded nonsense apart!
The whole of Europe will become a warzone? Would that be a conspiracy between the Muslims, Zionists and the illuminati, funded by Zionist banks and the White House? Or are you just talking straight out of your arse?
“I wouldn’t even know…” – there, you just admitted it, – you are ignorant & your opinion is worthless.
You are doomed to repeat history you poor idiot.
@Matt : fist bump on that comment!
We’ve been sending money to Africa for over 60 years (pennies for the black babies) and still they can’t get out of there quick enough? We need a whole new strategy now,
Well now you know where all of those pennies went to don’t you? Airline tickets and people smugglers.
They’ve come over here to say thanks for all the pennies!
Or go to other NEIGHBOURING Arab nations. Oh wait they won’t let anyone in…. wonder why that is. The press is making this whole mess a euro issue. I wait or the day when the backlash will commence.
I feel sorry for Syrians in particular but with the danger now posses to Europe something needs to happen. And by that I mean a joint statement by all eu nations to close our borders or soon we will have no eu
CNN did a good story on it http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/08/world/gulf-states-syrian-refugee-crisis/index.html
YOu also have the fact that the Arab states are sunni and don’t want Shia moving in especially Saudi. UAE also has a minority population in relation to foreign workers so they don’t want to set a precedent.
Most of the Syrians are Sunni also Saudi and Quatar spend billions keeping the civil war going in Syria
Egypt has said to come but your not getting citizenship….They don’t want to go!!
They should not be given citizenship here either. They should be provided with temporary refuge until it is safe for them to return to their homeland reclaim the heritage that is theirs, not co-opt a heritage and land that is alien to them.
Tomasz no surprise there , these people know exactly what they want , where they want to go and indeed who they want to be with , in a very short time Europe will be changed for the worse , all the progress made since the War will be under threat ,women’s / gay rights etc , these Muslims will not integrate and the worrying thing is that we know this and yet the bleeding hearts ignore it , the media are entirely subjective about this as can be seen after the pictures of that unfortunate child were released , this hasn’t changed the reality that this is an invasion , when a country cannot control its borders its in trouble
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed but not one of those migrant routes heads South into Africa or East into Asia. All, each and every one runs North and West. In Africa they “claim” to be fleeing persecution either political or religious. Yet the further South into Africa on goes the more stable the countries become in terms of politics and religion. And at half the distance to travel one would assume if you are fleeing persecution any safe country would do. But here is the real reason. None of those countries have the welfare benefits European countries have. In the Middle East. Saudi have a long and virtually uncontrollable border with Syria yet again not a single refugee has fled that way. Iraq too has a long and uncontrollable border with Syria. Most of which is not under ISIS control and the Southern half of Iraq is peaceful and safe from ISIS due to its vast population of Shia Muslims. Iran is also a safe haven for any Shia fleeing Syria. Afghanistan has a borders with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and even China. But yet all roads lead West. And again we know why. To these migrants Europe is the land of “Milk and Honey”.
And when they arrive in Europe. With very few being able to speak any European language and thus they will gather in ghettos and continue as before. And because they are not integrating with the local population and they can’t get work they become resentful and angry. And so they blame Western culture for their own failures.
of course its motivated on prospect of benefits. it will then give them all an excuse to cut it because they won’t be able to sustain it thus creating a might larger lower class. the middle class will be taxed more and pay more for services and housing.
fleeying for their lifes for sure !!
Matt Beumont: Poles are not claiming refugee status anywhere as far as I know
Sure its all going to be grand lads it all In our heads
http://www.rt.com/news/315058-islamists-recruit-refugee-camps/
‘Syrian operative claimed more than 4k ISIS gunmen smuggled into western nations, hidden amongst innocent refugees’
Source- EXPRESS.co.uk
This article and others like it ought be Euro-centric not gate-crasher-centric.
Using Reuters figures as facts for an article is getting beyond a joke . I’m sick of hearing all the lies all the rubbish figures the journal is splitting out . Only a few days ago trying to disprove what people know and saying the vast majority of the refugees in the Med. Were not male bit women and children basically condescending rubbish backed by fictional figure when you again chose to ignore UN stats and figures as they dont support your arguments and articles
http://data.unhcr.org/mediterranean/regional.html
And yet you will use any UN statics as gospel if they support what you are creating articles about
Poland is part of Europe. They can go wherever they like. Remember that time you voted yes to Lisbon and Nice, Matt
“I hear your a racist now father”
idiot
Worst use of s father ted quote ever.
Waterford whispers style. I like it
Polish king won`t save West nations again. Sorry. Read: Battle of Vienna.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_III_Sobieski
Battle of Vienna
Sobieski’s greatest success came in 1683, with his victory at the Battle of Vienna, in joint command of Polish, Austrian and German troops, against the invading Ottoman Turks under Kara Mustafa.
Upon reaching Vienna, with the Ottoman army close to breaching the walls, Sobieski ordered a full attack on 12 September. On early morning of that day, the united army of about 65,000–76,000men (including 22,000, 25,000 or 27,000 Poles) attacked a Turkish force of about 80,000–115,000 men. At about 5 pm, after observing the infantry battle from the hilltop, Sobieski led the Polish husaria cavalry along with Austrians and Germans in a massive charge down the hillside. Soon, the Ottoman battle line was broken and the Ottoman forces scattered in disarray. At 5:30 pm, Sobieski entered the deserted tent of Kara Mustafa and the Battle of Vienna ended.
The Pope and other foreign dignitaries hailed Sobieski as the “Savior of Vienna and Western European civilization.” In a letter to his wife, he wrote, “All the common people kissed my hands, my feet, my clothes; others only touched me, saying: ‘Ah, let us kiss so valiant a hand!’”
The war with Ottomans was not yet over, and Sobieski continued the campaign with the Battle of Párkány on 7–9 October. After early victories, the Polish found themselves a junior partner in the Holy League, gaining no lasting territorial or political rewards. The prolonged and indecisive war would also weaken his position at home. For the next four years Poland would blockade the key fortress at Kamenets, and Ottoman Tatars would raid the borderlands. In 1691, Sobieski undertook another expedition to Moldovia, with slightly better results, but still with no decisive victories.
@Maciej
1683? Are you serious? Who cares what happened back then?
By the way if Poland were such a great country why did millions of Polish flee their home to work in Western Europe, stateside or Oz?
Idiots like you Matt , this is the gates of Vienna all over again , this time they use social media and soft liberals like yourself to aid their invasion , you have no mandate to turn Europe into a failed Islamic hellhole , by you own admittance you are not taking any into your home , who do you think you are to expect the rest of us to so ?
@Mike
You have no mandate either!
Who asked you to take refugees into your home?
“Gates of Vienna” all over again? What a lot of bull and panic mongering, no substance whatsoever!
What a bunch of morons and fools!
Don’t you know history tends to repeat itself.
@Maciej. Delighted you reminded us of John Sobieski of Poland saving our skins in 1683 lifting the Siege of Vienna; otherwise we’de all most likely be under Sharia Law to day,- and who would want that but the traitors within our country
You said Sept.12 and I was under the impression that it was Sept.11 However in North America Sept.12 would be,I believe, be Sept 11 the day of the attack on the twin towers in NY. This date,many believe, was chosen by Osama Bin Laden to begin the 3rd Jihad against The West – the 2nd haven been stopped in its tracks at Vienna by John Sobieski at Vienna in 1683.
Here’s what Jihad historian Robert Spencer has to say
—-”Robert Spencer – “On September 11, 1683 the siege of Vienna was broken. That was high point of Islamic Jihad in Europe. After that Islam went into decline and the Islamic world was colonized and in a drastically weakened state. It seems very likely, almost certain as far as I am concerned that Osama bin Laden chose September 11 in 2001 to signal that decline of Islamic world is over. And the Jihadist were back and we are going to pick up where they left in Vienna in 1683.—-’
Below taken extracted from Gregory Davis’s Book-House of War/Islam’sJihad against the World
The First Major Wave of Jihad:622-750: This first wave of jihad engulfed much of the Byzantine, Visigothic, Frankish, and Persian Empires and left the newborn Islamic Empire controlling territory from Southern France, south through Spain, east across North Africa to India, and north to Russia.The Muslim offensive was finally halted in the West at the Battle of Poitiers/Tours, not far from Paris, in 732 AD. In the east, the jihad penetrated deep into Central Asia.
The Second Wave of Jihad:1071-1683:At the battle of Manzikert, in 1071, the Christian forces suffered a disastrous defeat, which left much of Anatolia (Turkey) open to invasion. One of the most significant engagements between the invading Muslims and the indigenous peoples of the region was the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, where the Turks annihilated a multinational army under the Serbian King, St. Lazar, though their progress into Europe was significantly slowed.his second, Turkish wave of jihad reached its farthest extent at the failed sieges of Vienna in 1529 and 1683, where in the latter instance the Muslim army under Kara Mustapha was thrown back by the Roman Catholics under the command of the Polish King, John Sobieski.-
The Third Wave of Jihad: Begins Sept. 11-2001—Since 9/11 there has been over 26,900 Islamic Terror attacks globally.
All grand Jihads have Hijrah/ Religioue Migration where Muslims transplant themselves into the new conquered territories to impose Sharia Law.
Short Primer on Jihad by Gregory Davis— http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2007/10/islam-101.html
I just love the wikipedia source. Cut and paste is alive and well.
God help them all, people need to stop educating themselves on social media. Anybody an post a picture with their own speel on who it is or what it’s taken from. The biggest humanitarian crisis of our time, we should feel humbled and lucky to be able to help.
People need to stop educating themselves that’s the dumbest thing I’ve seen on here In a long time.
Ahh. So Walter you are assuming you know better than anyone else!! That you have more knowledge about the subject than another commentator on here.
So they should just accept the agenda-driven dross that is shoved down their throats by the establishment media like good little sheep. Is that what you are saying?
you’re helping the agenda Walter, pat yourself on the back. Using empathy to gain support is an easy one. Almost emotional blackmail when you look deeper. Threats to cut funding to some EU states if they don’t do what merkel says is definitely blackmail for a start. The EU needs to fall apart or at least toughen reforms.
Matt Beaumont: there is probably more Irish that emigrated than Polish in total, so your point seems to be absolutely moronic. Even now, going by ratio / percentage – there is probably more Irish leaving Ireland than polish leaving Poland (Poland is x10 size). And you are so wrong most polish actually are real Patriots and despite being on immigration there is always strong bond with country – either emotional or economical (investments). TBH our immigration model is very similar to Irish, so with work in mind and not looking for handouts. Half Chicago is polish, New York – green point etc.
We should do everything possible to help refugees.
With all the talk and offers of accommodation for refugees, we should use a tiny fraction of this accommodation bank, to solve the homeliness problem immediately.
Good idea Liam ..let’s stick 20 Muslim family’s in a ghost estate in Leitrim and see how they get on.
@Tomasz
And because Poland is such a great and generous country the whole world is full of economic immigrants from Poland?
@Tomasz
No they don’t but it’s still interesting to see how many left their beloved country for purely economical reasons instead of helping to build an economy in Poland!
True patriots?
watch this, says it like it is.
@Tomasz
I have nothing against the Polish, there is even some Polish blood in my family.
I know most of youse are decent hard working people!
What I don’t understand though is why do so many Polish hate all Muslims?
I also don’t like when Immigrants try to lectures us as to how we should run our country. If you wanna have a say apply for Irish citizenship if you don’t want that let us run our country the way we see fit.
have your say