In recent years, Europe has faced its largest refugee crisis since World War II, with over a million refugees seeking asylum within its borders. Most of these individuals hail from war-torn regions like Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, fleeing conflict and devastation in search of safety. The primary entry points have been the Greek islands and the western Balkan route, bypassing the perilous crossings from North Africa. Nearly a million refugees have reached northern Europe, but since the Balkan Route's closure in March 2016, many remain stranded in Greece, caught in limbo under a contentious EU-Turkey deal that facilitates forced repatriations.
While Europe tightens its borders, neighboring countries like Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan continue to bear the brunt of the refugee crisis, hosting nearly 4 million Syrian refugees—quadruple the number received by the EU. Lebanon alone shelters over 1.2 million refugees, a staggering figure that constitutes more than a quarter of its population. Unlike Turkey and Jordan, which have established large refugee camps, Lebanon’s refugees are dispersed across urban areas, the Baalbek Valley, and regions north of Tripoli. This lack of centralized camps, coupled with high living costs and scarce resources, exacerbates socio-economic vulnerabilities and strains relationships with local communities.
Europe’s increasing focus on sealing its borders—effectively turning itself into a "fortress"—has raised ethical and humanitarian concerns. As thousands remain trapped in precarious conditions, critics argue that Europe’s response prioritizes exclusion over solidarity. Meanwhile, new migration routes are likely to emerge, underscoring the persistent challenge of addressing the global refugee crisis in a way that balances security with compassion.
Berkasovo, main crossing from Serbia to Croatia for refugees along the western Balkan route, Serbia, October 2015
Stranded refugee en route for Europe. The African transit route to Europe before Libya took over the role of primary route. Tangier, Morocco, April 2015
Syrian girl, Bekaa Valley in Lebanon near the Syrian border, March 2016
Settlement for Syrian refugees from Homs, Akkar in Tripoli region, Lebanon, March 2016
Spielfeld, main crossing point between Slovenia and Austria after Hungary sealed its border for refugees, Austria, October 2015
Settlement for Syrian refugees from the Homs area, Akkar in Tripoli region, Lebanon, March 2016
Refugees having reached the Island of Levbos in the Aegean Sea, Greece, November 2015
Shelter in an unfinished building rented by Syrian refugees, Akkar in Tripoli region of Lebanon, March 2016
Settlement for Syrian refugees from the Homs area, Akkar in Tripoli region, Lebanon, March 2016
Berkasovo, main crossing from Serbia to Croatia for refugees along the western Balkan route, Serbia, October 2015
Berkasovo, main crossing from Serbia to Croatia for refugees along the western Balkan route, Serbia, October 2015
Ferry chartered for refugees between Levbos island and Athens, November 2015
Berkasovo, main crossing from Serbia to Croatia for refugees along the western Balkan route, Serbia, October 2015
Levbos port on the Greek island of Mythilini, November 2015
Afghan refugee texting family back home about his whereabouts, Levbos-Athens ferry, November 2015
Transit centre in a factory for refugees arriving in Slovenia from Croatia, Dobova, Slovenia, October 2015
Border crossing between Greece and Northern Macedonia when passage started to be restricted to only conflict zone refugees. Standed Iranian and Pakistani refugees. Idomeni, Greece, November 2015
Refugees sleeping rough in Spielfel, main crossing point between Slovenia and Austria after Hungary sealed its border for refugees, Austria, October 2015
Levbos, Greece, November 2015
Spielfeld, main crossing point between Slovenia and Austria after Hungary sealed its border for refugees, Austria, October 2015
Refugges waiting to embark to Pireaus, port of Mythilini, Greece, November 2015
Spielfeld, main crossing point between Slovenia and Austria after Hungary sealed its border for refugees, Austria, October 2015
Refugees waiting to embark. Ferry for Athens, Levbos port, Greece, November 2015
Syrian volunteer helping to distribute firewood to isolated Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, March 2016
Berkasovo, main crossing from Serbia to Croatia for refugees along the western Balkan route, Serbia, October 2015
Border crossing between Greece and Northern Macedonia when passage started to be restricted to only conflict zone refugees, Idomeni, Greece, November 2015
Settlement for Syrian refugees from the Homs area, Akkar in Tripoli region, Lebanon, March 2016
During the past year, more than a million refugees have converged towards the European Union. Throughout this largest exodus registered at the gates of Europe since the Second World War, several bottlenecks have emerged due to closed borders or incapacity to cope with the quantity of refugees in remote areas. Eventually, “fortress Europe” has given way through the Greek islands and the western Balkan route, preferred to a crossing from North Africa. By now nearly one million refugees from mainly Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq have reached northern Europe. Since March 2016 the Balkan Route has been closed, while other routes will surely appear soon, thousands of refugees are stuck in Greece and face a forced repatriation to Turkey under a controversial deal made between the EU and Turkey. Almost 4 million Syrian refugees are still hosted by Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, four times more than in the EU. Tangier passage to Spain, Morocco, April 2015
A fourteen hour ferry journey from Levbos to Athens from where most of the refugees will want to continue their journey towards Germany along the Balkan route, November 2015
Makeshift mosque for Syrian refugees from Homs, Akkar district, Lebanon, March 2016
Border crossing between Greece and Mecedonia when passage started to be restricted to only conflict zone refugees, Idomeni, Greece, November 2015
Over 1.2 million Syrian refugees are hosted in Lebanon, which represent over a quarter of the Lebanese population. Contrary to Jordan and Turkey, Lebanon does not have large single refugee camps. The refugees are mainly scattered around local communities in the Baalbek Valley, north of Tripoli and in urban areas. Due to remoteness and high costs of living, the socio-economic vulnerability remains extremely high and tensions with local communities ever more present.Settlement for Syrian refugees from the Homs area, Akkar in Tripoli region, Lebanon, March 2016
Shelter in an unfinished building rented by Syrian refugees, Akkar in Tripoli region of Lebanon, March 2016
Settlement for Syrian refugees from the Homs area, Akkar in Tripoli region, Lebanon, March 2016
Refugees trying to buy a ferry ticket for mainland Greece, Levbos port, November 2015
Paralysed woman following war injuries, shelter for disabled syrian civilians, Tripoli, Lebanon, March 2016
