War and Displacement: How Global Conflicts Fuel Migration to Europe
Armed conflict remains a primary driver of forced migration in the 21st century
Consider the experience of Maha Hijazi, a humanitarian worker displaced from Deir al?Balah in Gaza. As UNRWA’s food distribution coordinator, she found herself struggling to care for her children amid relentless bombing and collapsing infrastructure. Despite her commitment to aid her own community, Maha was forced to make the painful decision to flee Gaza and cross into Egypt with her children, driven purely by desperation for their safety The TimesUN News.
According to UNHCR, over 114 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide by the end of 2023, the highest number ever recorded. The Gaza conflict alone has uprooted more than 1.7 million Palestinians, approximately 75% of the enclave’s population since October 2023 Human Rights WatchUnited Nationsgazaunlocked.org. Other major sources of displacement include Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, and Yemen.
Many refugees head toward Europe, viewed as a symbol of safety and stability. In 2023, Frontex reported a 17% rise in irregular border crossings, reaching over 380,000 detections, particularly along the Eastern and Central Mediterranean routes used by people fleeing Middle East and North African conflicts.
Europe’s response varies significantly among countries. Germany and Sweden have long accepted large numbers of refugees, while others implement tighter asylum restrictions. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) documented over 3,000 migrant deaths or disappearances in the Mediterranean in 2023, highlighting the extreme dangers undertaken during migration .
Despite some sympathy for refugees, disparities in treatment persist. Ukrainian refugees have often been welcomed more swiftly than asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa, raising concerns about inconsistent humanitarian policies.
Maha’s situation exemplifies the emotional toll of displacement. She recounts fleeing with her children, unsure if they would survive the journey across Rafah border crossing, her family's only option to escape continued bombing UN News+1The Times+1.
