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Backgrounder: Illegal migration greatly troubles Europe

Xinhua, August 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

European countries have been inflicted by the problem of illegal migrants in recently years, which tends to aggravate.

The number of migrants and asylum seekers who have arrived in Europe by sea in August alone was approaching a quarter of a million, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in its latest analysis.

So far in 2015, about 237,000 refugees and migrants have arrived by sea in the Mediterranean and more than 2,300 people have died in their attempts to reach Europe by boat, according to the IOM.

To combat the problem, the European Commission has approved approximately 2.4 billion euros (2.63 billion U.S. dollars) to support EU member states in managing migration in 2015.

Italy and Greece have received 558 million euros and 474 million euros (643 million and 546 million U.S. dollars) respectively.

Some 104,000 migrants have arrived in Italy this year from the Middle East, African and South Asian countries. Last year, Italy saw an influx of over 170,000 people.

Italy, itself battered by an economic crisis, is struggling to maintain its emergency relief operation.

While Greece is facing a similar situation, the issue in France has caused environmental deterioration and public disorders as the migrants fail to fit into society or get employed.

Apart from the three countries, the Balkans are also being affected as thousands of migrants from crisis areas in the Middle East and Asia are arriving in these countries every day, in a hope to move further westward.

Amidst the economic downturn and depressing employment situation, political forces advocating anti-immigration are on the rise.

More than 200 cases of arson have taken place in refugee camps in Germany since January, according to media reports.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the attacks and warned that the migrant crisis could become a bigger challenge for the EU than the Greek economy.

Analysts say the root cause of the serious problem lies in some Western countries' interference in West Asia and North Africa, which has led to big-scale turbulence in the regions.

Some point out that unless the situation in West Asia and North Africa eases, the migrant crisis would not settle spontaneously. Endi