Main Causes of The Crisis

The causes of the refugee crisis are complex but broken down at a high level, they have been listed below:

1.Syrian Civil War

One of the biggest civil wars that has every happened. It is estimated that the number of people who have fled as a result is more
than half the pre-war population. There are also many other civil wars around the world driving the crisis

2.No End To War In The Middle East

​Refugees are going to Europe because there seems to be no end to the war in the Middle East and Africa, so Europe seems to be the most attractive option. 

3.Route to Europe Has Become Easier

​Most refugees used to get to Europe by coming from Libya to Italy but recently a new route has opened from Turkey to Greece which takes under an hour. 

4.The Price Drop

​This is closely associated with reason 3. The route from Turkey to Greece is cheaper for refugees to get to Europe. Instead of paying smugglers $5-6,000 they pay only $2-3,000, which is still quite a lot of money. 

5.Mandatory Military Service

Syrians under the age of 30 must complete a mandatory 10 years of military service, but people can defer from serving by paying $300 to the country and get a passport to travel.

6.Germany's Open Borders

​Angela Merkel has promised to temporarily open its borders to refugees coming from Syria until the war is resolved. 

7.Shortage Of International Aid

​Before refugees started coming to Europe, 4 million went to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan and were denied the right to work due to there being a shortage of international aid. Refugee children aren’t in school so they can’t get education, resulting in refugees going to Europe in hope to give their children a future. 

8.The Weather

It is the peak time for refugees to get to Europe during the summer months so they can avoid bad weather that comes in the winter. The seas are calmer during the summer. The weather as a result causes fluctuations in the movement of people.