Refugee numbers to quadruple
AAP
Conflict in Syria and the Balkans is expected to quadruple Germany’s refugee intake to 800,000 in 2015.
The expected increase has seen the German Government call on the European Union to help shoulder the influx.
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On Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel doubled the country’s May estimate of expected numbers of asylum seekers and refugees
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said processing of refugees would be sped up with all to be “received and housed in a dignified, safe and decent way”.
“We have to accept this challenge and master it together,” de Maiziere told reporters in Berlin.
“We have to be prepared for high refugee numbers for several years.
“Europe, too, will play a central role in the search for solutions.
“We won’t let our partners or the European Commission evade responsibility.”
EU border management agency Frontex indicated on Tuesday the number of migrants detected at the EU’s borders surpassed 100,000 for the first time since the agency began keeping records in 2008.
July’s figures easily surpassed those in June, increasing from 70,000 to 107,500.
“Syrians and Afghans accounted for a lion’s share of the record number of migrants entering the EU illegally,” the agency said in a statement.
“Most of them, fleeing instability in their home countries, initially entered Greece from Turkey.”
Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri labelled it an “emergency situation” for Europe that required all members to support border authorities.
In late July, EU member states agreed to take about 32,000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece over two years, revised down from 40,000.
Australia’s annual refugee intake is currently just under 14,000.
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