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the EU migrant crisis

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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file word

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refugees crisis 1.docx - Microsoft Word Online

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source:"the Telegraph"

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The migrant crisis has seen people scrambling to reach the EU after fleeing war-torn countries such as Iraq, Syria and Libya.

The UN says refugee and migrant arrivals in the EU surpassed one million in 2015 but thousands also died on journeys across the sea to a perceived better life.

In the latter part of 2015, migrants also increasingly used road and rail transport to access the EU.

The deaths of 71 migrants who suffocated on board a lorry abandoned in Austria in August 2015 was one of the most distressing examples.

People fleeing war and misery in the Middle East and elsewhere are still arriving from Turkey in flimsy boats in their thousands every day, despite the dangers and the harsh winter weather.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that some 31,000 migrants have reached Greece by sea so far in 2016, hoping to start new lives in Germany, Sweden and elsewhere in the European Union.

Migrants being rescued near the Greek island of Rhodes Credit: Rodiaki.gr

Watch our 90 second video to understand some of the reasons why the migrants are attempting dangerous crossings into Europe and the challenges they face on the journey.

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The EU migrant crisis explained in 90 seconds

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The migrant crisis has seen people scrambling to reach the EU after fleeing war-torn countries such as Iraq, Syria and Libya.

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source: www.bbc.com

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The vast majority arrived by sea but some migrants have made their way over land, principally via Turkey and Albania.

Winter has not stemmed the flow of people - with 135,711 people reaching Europe by sea since the start of 2016, according to the UNHCR.

1. Which countries are migrants from?

The conflict in Syria continues to be by far the biggest driver of migration. But the ongoing violence in Afghanistan and Iraq, abuses in Eritrea, as well as poverty in Kosovo, are also leading people to look for new lives elsewhere.

2. Where are migrants going?

3. How do migrants get to Europe?

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 1,011,700 migrants arrived by sea in 2015, and almost 34,900 by land.

This compares with 280,000 arrivals by land and sea for the whole of 2014. The figures do not include those who got in undetected.

The EU's external border force, Frontex, monitors the different routes migrants use and numbers arriving at Europe's borders and put the figure crossing into Europe in 2015 at more than 1,800,000.

Most of those heading for Greece take the relatively short voyage from Turkey to the islands of Kos, Chios, Lesvos and Samos - often in flimsy rubber dinghies or small wooden boats.

4. How dangerous is the journey?

According to the IOM, more than 3,770 migrants were reported to have died trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2015.

Most died on the crossing from north Africa to Italy, and more than 800 died in the Aegean crossing from Turkey to Greece.

The summer months are usually when most fatalities occur as it is the busiest time for migrants attempting to reach Europe.

But in 2015, the deadliest month for migrants was April, which saw a boat carrying about 800 people capsize in the sea off Libya. Overcrowding is thought to have been one of the reasons for the disaster.

5. Which European countries are most affected?

The figure for Germany was 587 and for the UK it was 60 applications for every 100,000 residents. The EU average was 260.

6. How has Europe responded?

Tensions in the EU have been rising because of the disproportionate burden faced by some countries, particularly the countries where the majority of migrants have been arriving: Greece, Italy and Hungary.

Another 54,000 were to be moved from Hungary, but the Hungarian government rejected this plan and will instead receive more migrants from Italy and Greece as part of the relocation scheme.

The UK has opted out of any plans for a quota system but, according to Home Office figures, 1,000 Syrian refugees were resettled under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme in 2015. Prime Minister David Cameron has said the UK will accept up to 20,000 refugees from Syria over the next five years.

7. How many asylum claims are approved?

Although huge numbers have been applying for asylum, the number of people being given asylum is far lower.

In 2015, EU countries offered asylum to 292,540 refugees. In the same year, more than a million migrants applied for asylum - although applying for asylum can be a lengthy procedure so many of those given refugee status may have applied in previous years.

A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.

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Migrant crisis: Migration to Europe explained in seven charts

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The vast majority arrived by sea but some migrants have made their way over land, principally via Turkey and Albania. Winter has not stemmed the flow of people - with 135,711 people reaching Europe by sea since the start of 2016, according to the UNHCR. 1. Which countries are migrants from?

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ELENA, MILENA, MARIA LIVIA, VALENTINA

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SARA G

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Hotspots

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source: European Commission

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European Agenda on Migration: President Juncker's announcement on Migration Agenda

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Jean Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, describes the importance and details of the European Agenda on Migration presented on the 13 May 2015

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source: EUROSTAT 2015

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What is the EU Agenda on Migration?  - naval operations;  -disrupting smuggling organizations - supporting front-line member States -relocation

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What is the EU Agenda on Migration?  - naval operations;  -disrupting smuggling organizations - supporting front-line member States -relocation

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source: European Commission press conference

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one or more of the commission specific keywords + commission européenne

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Extracts from the common press conference by Frans Timmermans, Federica Mogherini, and Dimitris Avramopoulos, on Managing migration better in all aspects - A European Agenda on Migration

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On 13 May 2015, Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the EC in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC, and Dimitris Avramopoulos, Member

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source: the european commission

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one or more of the commission specific keywords + commission européenne

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As part of the action to assist frontline Member States which face disproportionate migratory pressures at the EU's external borders, in the European Agenda on Migration presented in May 2015, the European Commission proposed to develop a new Hotspot approach.

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from: the European Commission

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one or more of the commission specific keywords + commission européenne

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Based on Commission proposals, the Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted in September 2015 two Decisions to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece, to assist them in dealing with the pressures of the refugee crisis.