Desperate Journey: Europe's Refugee Crisis

(November 17, 2015) More than 800,000 asylum seekers and migrants have arrived in Europe by sea in 2015, with most traveling onward to northern and western EU countries. According to UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, 84 percent were from Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, or Iraq – all countries experiencing conflict, widespread violence and insecurity, or countries with highly repressive governments.
European Union governments should take urgent action to bring Europe’s response to the refugee challenge, now a full blown EU crisis, in line with their legal responsibilities and stated values.

Wait on the boat, we're coming, wait!

Take the baby, please.

Over 800,000 asylum seekers and migrants
reached Europe by sea this year.

More than 200,000 arrived on
the Greek islands in October alone.

Most of them come from countries where
conflict, repression and fear

forced people to flee for their lives.

And did they threaten you personally?
They said to you: "you have to go"?

Over 3400 people including many children
have died at sea trying to reach

the European Union
this year.

Yet despite the risks they keep coming

Where are you going now?

How many days since they've
had the medicine?

When did you leave ....?

Human rights watch sent teams of
of researchers to document

the dangerous journey

and the hardships upon arrival.

We spoke to Syrians, Afghans,
Iraqis, Eritreans and Somalis

In story after story we heard that
the only way out of violence

and terror at home and unbearable
conditions in neighboring countries

was to resort to smugglers and flee
through dangerous crossings.

If there were safe and legal routes
to seek refuge, far fewer people

would be at the mercy
of abusive smugglers.

We have witnessed scenes of chaos at many
EU borders for months now.

Daily arrivals of thousands of people
on Greek islands

created an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Hitting those most vulnerable the hardest.

Most of those who reach Greece by sea
continue their journey over land

through the western Balkans
encountering police abuse,

terrible detention conditions and
cascading border closures.

Many EU governements are foccused on
preventing arrivals

instead of managing the flow humanely.

A plan to relocate tens of thousands
of asylum seekers from frontline states

like Greece and Italy has gotten off
to such a slow start

At this rate it will take over 180 years
to reach the target.

And months into this crisis
with winter approaching

volunteers, not governments,
are still at the forefront

of providing humanitarian assistance.

Until now the response of EU governments
to the crisis has been deeply flawed.

Defined by deaths at sea, chaos
and distressing humanatarian conditions.

People should not have to risk
their lives or face so many obstacles

to reach a place of refuge.

The European Union has a legal and moral
obligation to fairly process

and humanely host asylum seekers
and refugees

and respect the rights and dignity of
everyone who arrives at its borders.

(Man): We are from Syria from Damascus
Damascus is a very good, before the war.

We are just like Europe, we have money, we have houses,

we have cars, we have everything.

The war damaged everything
(Interviewer): So what do you need?

(Man): Peace, just peace, yeah.

EU government should ensure safe passage
access to asylum at and within its borders

and make sure human rights and compassion
are at the heart of its response

to this challenge.