Financial Times: Europe braces for migrant influx from Middle East

Europe is preparing for a possible surge in migration from the Middle East amid escalating conflict in the region, in an effort to avoid a repeat of the 2015–2016 crisis, when over 1 million refugees from Syria and Afghanistan arrived in the European Union, the Financial Times reports.

Amy Pope, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, warned that continued fighting will increase the number of displaced people.

The EU is pursuing an earlier and more comprehensive approach, including support for refugee-hosting countries, following the model of the 2016 Türkiye agreement, Poup said.

She noted that most displacement currently occurs within the countries of the region, but border closures for Iranian citizens create additional risks for people’s lives. Special attention is being paid to Lebanon and foreign workers in Gulf countries, who often remain without support.