War in the Middle East: Germany braces for potential waves of migration

Inna Kramarchuk
Inna Kramarchuk Journalist
War in the Middle East: Germany braces for potential waves of migration
Image: Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu/picture alliance
The current hostilities involving the US, Israel and Iran have not yet led to a mass influx of refugees into European Union countries. However, the German authorities are already drawing up contingency plans in case migration pressure increases

This was stated by German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt in an interview with the Rheinische Post, as reported by Deutsche Welle.

The current situation at the borders

According to the minister, there is currently no immediate threat of a mass crossing of the EU’s borders, but the situation within the Middle East region remains tense:

  • Internal migration: Iran and Lebanon are seeing high levels of internal population movement.

  • The Turkish route: as of Saturday, 18 April, no pressure on the Turkish border has been recorded. Dobrindt emphasised that activity in this area would be the first sign of migrants beginning to move towards Europe.

  • Scale of the crisis: according to WHO data, from the start of the war (28 February) to early April, the number of internally displaced persons in both countries exceeded 4.25 million.

Tightening of border controls

Germany continues to adhere to a strict migration policy. Alexander Dobrindt, who took office in May last year, has already introduced enhanced checks at all nine of the country’s land borders.

The minister suggested that temporary border controls, which are permitted under Schengen rules only as an exceptional measure, may be extended beyond September. The final decision will depend on developments in the Middle East over the coming weeks.

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