As record numbers of refugees arrive in Europe, World Vision warns of escalating humanitarian crisis due to severe winter weather conditions

World Vision – the world’s largest children’s charity – is today warning that adverse weather conditions across Europe are threatening to expose thousands of desperate refugees fleeing an escalating war in Syria and other conflicts.  

The charity’s call comes ahead of a high level European Union summit on refugees in Malta tomorrow (Wednesday 11 November), where the continent’s political leaders will learn that record numbers of refugees have arrived in Europe over the past month in time for the advent of winter. 

Johan Eldebo, World Vision UK’s senior humanitarian adviser, recently in Serbia said: “Clearly, Europe has found itself ill-prepared to deal with its biggest influx of refugees since the WWII. 

“Many presumed the influx of refugees to Europe would start to slow with the arrival of winter, but there’s no evidence that the numbers are falling. In fact, we are seeing the opposite with the UNHCR's anticipating as many as 5,000 arrivals to reach European shores each day between November 2015 and February 2016. Europe is facing a race against time and the elements. I have just returned from the Serbian border town of Sid and the Berkasovo/Bapska border crossing point where thousands of refugees are looking to cross in Croatia. It’s clear that the harsh weather conditions are likely to exacerbate the suffering of the people travelling through the Balkans, and may result in further loss of life if adequate measures are not taken urgently at the very top level,” he explained.

Tens of thousands of people - including children - find themselves trapped in the open as the skies darken and the first night frosts take hold. Across the Balkans, temperatures are tumbling to as low as -9°C at night in the makeshift camps where refugees are staying with no heating facilities.  Hypothermia, pneumonia and opportunistic diseases are the main threats now, along with the growing desperation of refugees trying to save the lives of their families.

Eldebo added: “Shelter, food, winter clothing and blankets, as well as other essential items for protecting people from the elements are required urgently. Long term, the EU needs to agree on a plan that fulfils to its legal and moral obligations to protect and provide for refugees on the continent.”

According to the UNHCR, up to a total of 600,000 are expected to arrive in Croatia, Greece, Serbia, Slovenia and Macedonia between November 2015 and February 2016. In previous years, migrant crossings of the Mediterranean Sea dropped significantly in the winter, as the harsher weather made the hazardous journey even more difficult. But a similar reduction is not expected this year.

An estimated 760,000 refugees have arrived in Europe this year along unofficial and dangerous land and sea routes, from Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Africa and beyond. So far this year, more than 3,400 people have lost their lives or been reported missing as they seek to reach Europe. 

Last week, the World Vision UK media team witnessed the first train from Sid in Serbia depart for Slavonski Brod in Croatia with an estimated 1, 000 refugees (see/download pictures here). The development followed a deal reached last month between Zagreb and Belgrade to set up a new transit camp for refugees in Croatia. 

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