Some thoughts on the European Migrant Crisis

My parents moved from Spain to Germany in the 1960ies in search of a better life, which they found. My family has enjoyed a comfortable life thanks to hard work (lots of it) and the chances this country has offered us. So immigration is something personal for me.

Now Europe is facing the biggest refugee crisis since World War II and many people, including myself, are starting to feel confused and anxious about the situation. 

First of all we all agree that the situation in Syria is terrible and tragic and that it is everyone's duty to help people running from such a horrific war. We have organized donations and tried to support the refugees in any way possible. These people need our help and we are willing to give him, as has been proven in the last couple of months.  

But it would be a lie to say that there is no worry attached to this topic.  We see pictures of trains full of people and people walking towards borders. The current number states 800.000 refugees for Germany alone and they expect the number to reach 1.000.000 by the end of the year. That is about the same amount as the complete population of San Jose (CA) and there is no end in sight.

The governments in Europe are constantly speaking about the advantages for Europe because of the refugees and how our countries can handle it. But the question is: Who can really handle it and for how long? Where is the limit and shouldn’t there be a plan before the limit is reached?

How is it possible that a country like Spain has been assigned the third highest refugee quota, while it has problems in sustaining its own population? This may sound a little selfish, but since it is my home country I can’t help feeling for it. I am tired of hearing stories of how people commit suicide because they can't avoid eviction and how people have to go through the trash of supermarkets to find something for their family for dinner. The latter story I have witnessed myself and it was heartbreaking. 

Many people are shouting for border controls and even closed borders. While I can understand their concerns this would be the easy and unkind way to solve this problem. The truth is that the refugees didn't leave their home for fun but because they didn't have any other choice. While we worry about the next promotion or if we can get that new car we want, they are used to worry about getting home alive. What they have been through is certainly beyond our imagination. We have to help them, simply because this is the right thing to do. 

One thing that is missing in this situation is a proper leadership. Governments can't be oblivious to the fear of the population in Europe and yet they are still not presenting a proper plan of action. It has already been said that accommodation for 200.000 refugees in Germany alone is already missing and more people are coming. This is not considering that the winter is approaching and that those presently housed in tents have to be moved into proper accommodations, when the temperatures drop.

 There are rumors about empty flats being forcefully seized by the state for housing among other things. Of course this scares people not because they don't want to help but because they feel they don't have a say and they don't know what they are at. 

Maybe the present amount of refugees can be handled but how much more can? According to some source 9 million Syrians alone are on the run. That is more than the population of New York City. In addition there are many migrants from other countries. Could Europe still handle that? Would it be acceptable to close the border at a certain number and say: Sorry, we are booked out? Certainly not!

While taking in refugees is the right thing to do, it is an improvised solution to a very different problem: The war in Syria! The truth is that the refugee crisis is merely a symptom of the war.

Down the line it is obvious to me, that people want to help but they feel anxious because our leaders don’t seem to have a solid plan. It seems as if they are making it up as they go along. That situation is dangerous because the fear of the European population can be used by racist organizations. The governments should ensure the people, Europeans and refugees alike, that they know what they are doing.

Edit 22-11-2015:
I wrote this post before the attacks in Paris. I have to admit that my first instinct had been to take this post down. Like the rest of Europe I was shocked and scared. Now I have decided to repost it, as my way of support for Paris and refugees alike.