
«Italy alone will need an estimated 1.6 million regular migrants over the next decade to sustain its welfare and pension schemes.» Leaders of The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Spain in a joint statement.
Fortunately for both the African and European leaders, there are alternatives to a focus on expanding border forces and using detention to stop people moving across frontiers.
«It’s great to see the UNHCR following the lead of African civil society organisations, re-focussing resources to ensure alternatives such as freedom of movement and support services provided through reception centres» said IDC’s Africa and Middle East Coordinator, Junita Calder. «Let’s hope that their government counterparts in both Africa and Europe look at the efficacy of such options and allocate resources to increase their use.»

«It’s great to see the UNHCR following the lead of African civil society organisations, re-focussing resources to ensure alternatives…» Junita Calder, IDC Africa and Middle East Coordinator