Finland raises obstacles to migrants including Syrians
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – About 600 migrants without proper visas from different countries including Syria have arrived in Finland in November, forcing it to erect barriers at some crossing points on the Nordic country’s lengthy border with Russia.
France 24 said on Wednesday citing border officials that Finnish border guards are erecting barriers including concrete obstacles at some crossing points on the Nordic country’s lengthy border with Russia to control the influx of migrants.
Finland said it will close three more crossing points, leaving only one Arctic point open for migrants seeking asylum, according to the source.
The arrivals include people from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Kenya, Morocco and Somalia, according to the officials.
“About 600 migrants without proper visas and documentation have arrived in Finland in November compared to a few dozen in September and October,” the source added.
Migration from Syria is increasing in general due to the deteriorating living conditions and security measures in a country ravaged by warring parties.
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) revealed on Sep.5 that during the first half of 2023, they received 519,000 applications for asylum, the highest level for this time of the year since the refugee crisis of 2015-2016, mostly by Syrian refugees. The EUAA’s analysis predicted that applications could surpass one million by the end of 2023.
Roughly one million Syrian asylum-seekers and refugees live in Europe. Germany alone hosts around 59 percent of them. Across Europe, Syrians have usually been provided with international protection status. However, procedures tend to be long, which is why many Syrians have taken dangerous routes to reach the continent. Around 94,000 Syrians made their way to Europe illicitly in 2022, the EU says – more than double the number in 2021.