Migrants fleeing the Syrian Civil War are at risk of freezing and catching respiratory illnesses as they attempt to enter the European Union (EU) through the Balkan nations. Refugees attempting to cross into Serbia from Macedonia and Croatia are increasingly presenting with symptoms of cold and hunger, say representatives of Medecins San Frontieres (MSF).
More than 1 million Syrians in Lebanon will spend the winter in tents. A lack of basic necessities like food, blankets and winter coats is putting children at risk in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, according to international charity Oxfam.
The 900,000 Syrian migrants who entered Europe last year are trying to reach the EU, which they believe will give them the best chance at rebuilding their lives. German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to welcome 1 million Syrians this year despite opposition from German politicians and EU partners. Several EU states have been less welcoming with Hungary closing its borders and Sweden re-instating border checks.
Human rights groups have criticized EU leaders for their slow response to the refugee crisis. The new head of the UN’s refugee agency, Fillipo Grandi, yesterday called on the EU to act “coherently and in a coordinated manner” to deal with the influx of Middle Eastern migrants fleeing war. UN agencies, including Grandi’s UN High Commission, are working in migrant camps in Europe, Lebanon and Jordan to prepare vulnerable migrants for the sub-zero conditions they will face in the coming weeks.
