The tragic traffic accident in Burgenland made it clear to us once again: the flow of refugees towards Europe continues unabated. This is now also apparent from new figures from EU countries of first admission. This year, 13,000 refugees have already applied for asylum in the small island republic of Cyprus. Most of them came from Turkey. In addition, more than 20,000 migrants have already made the dangerous crossing on small boats across the English Channel this year. They all have one goal: a better life in Europe. This poses major challenges for European asylum policy, especially in the fight against human smuggling.
According to EU statistics, Cyprus registers by far the highest number of asylum applications per year relative to its population size. The government in Nicosia has therefore repeatedly asked the EU for help. Meanwhile, undocumented migrants accounted for about four percent of southern Cyprus’ population, the state broadcaster reported.
By tugboat from Turkey to Cyprus
According to the Cypriot authorities, most of the refugees from Turkey are brought to the north of the island in the Mediterranean Sea, which is occupied by Turkish troops, by gangs of people smugglers. They are then led south through poorly guarded sections of the dividing line.
Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided into a larger, mainly Greek part in the south and a Turkish Cypriot part in the north. Only Turkey recognizes Northern Cyprus as a state. Due to the de facto partition of Cyprus, the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus only exercises effective control in the southern part of the island.
Migrants stranded on island in Greek-Turkish border river
It has also been known since Sunday that nearly 40 migrants have been trapped for days on a small island in the middle of the Greek-Turkish border river Evros. People urgently need to be taken to safety, Greek parliamentarians and human rights groups demanded. However, the Greek police said the island is on the Turkish side of the border.
37,000 refugees across the Mediterranean to Italy since 2022
Italy is also feeling the effects of the new refugee flow. Since the beginning of 2022, approximately 37,000 people have arrived in our southern neighbors after crossing the Mediterranean Sea. In the comparative period of 2021 there were 27,474 and in 2020 11,965, the Ministry of the Interior in Rome announced.
The arrival of migrants threatens to become a hot campaign theme in Italy. The country will elect a new parliament on September 25. According to the poll, a coalition of centre-right parties, including the anti-foreigner Lega and Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy/FdI), could win the election.
Channel: Crossings almost doubled
change of environment. More than 20,000 migrants have already made the perilous crossing on small boats across the English Channel this year. This is evident from official figures from the British government, the PA news agency reported on Sunday. That’s a significant increase from last year when the number was just 11,300 at this time of year. In total, the government counted 28,526 crossings last year.
Brits want to fly out certain asylum seekers
The crossings from France to Britain, which have increased since Brexit and the corona pandemic, partly due to stricter controls on land routes, are a thorn in the side of the Conservative government in London. Gaining control over one’s borders was one of the central promises of the EU exit campaign. The British therefore want to fly certain asylum seekers of different nationalities to Rwanda and have concluded a controversial pact with the East African country for this purpose.
Already more than 31,000 asylum applications in Austria
Many of the refugees who have made the trip to Europe also want to go to Austria. According to the latest data (already published at the end of July), 31,050 migrants applied for asylum in Austria in the first half of the year. Most of these were migrants from Afghanistan (7325), followed by Syria (6680), Tunisia (3810), Pakistan (3110) and India (2025). By August 12 of this year, nearly 330 people smugglers had already been arrested, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) referred to the data. Compared to the same period last year, this represents an increase of 80 arrests.
Karner criticizes the ‘cruelty’ of the smuggling mafia
After the accident with a towing vehicle that left three dead and several seriously injured in Burgenland on Saturday, Karner sharply criticized the tractor’s actions. “The tragic deaths of three people today at the border crossing in Kittsee demonstrate once again the brutality and unscrupulousness of the smuggling mafia,” he said. Resolute action must be taken, he emphasized.
International cooperation
And added: “A credible asylum policy is inseparable from a consistent return system. Anyone who does not receive asylum must return to their country of origin. Close agreements between the European member states and clear messages to the countries of origin and transit are needed here in order to consistently combat human smuggling’, says Karner. Karner also referred to international cooperation: a “task force” of researchers from Hungary, Serbia and Austria had already been set up and a first “researchers’ conference” had already been held.
Migrant gangs and people smugglers make border regions unsafe
According to Karner, there are currently armed clashes between rival gangs of traffickers and smugglers on the Hungarian-Serb border. And also in the border area between Greece and North Macedonia, gangs of migrants and people smugglers are making the area increasingly unsafe.
Recently, a fatal incident occurred. A young Pakistani man who fled to Central Europe and was attacked has been beaten to death. Greek police also reported that a pregnant woman from Lebanon lost her child in another attack.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
