Since 2011, an estimated nine million people have fled from their respective war-torn countries, leaving Europe midst a serious refugee crisis. Migrants and refugees from the Balkans, the Middle East, and especially those from Syria have flooded Europe, creating a problem almost as bad as the refugee crisis of World War II.  

This crisis has led to tension between European Union member states and tightened border controls. The European Commission has proposed to distribute refugees throughout E.U. member states, leaving the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and much of Eastern Europe in disagreement. The proposal is expected to help, but mostly for countries that have seen the greatest influx of refugees, such as Italy and Greece. Some countries have gone as far as to shut down trains that served to transport Syrians. Contrary to Europe’s general reluctance to accept refugees, several countries such as Germany and France, have agreed to accommodate for the millions who have lost everything.

Media publication of suffering refugees (for example, a photograph of a drowning Syrian boy) has garnered increased sympathy from newspapers and magazines with opposing views in past few months. However, Germany has used media to attack Britain, whose somewhat anti-immigrant government has been unyielding thus far in taking in refugees. The German newspaper Bild called the British, “the slackers of Europe,” and in response, British Prime Minister, David Cameron reluctantly agreed to accept 20,000 refugees by 2020. So far, Germany has been the most welcoming to Syrians compared to the number of refugees Britain is willing to accept, which only stands around 0.8% of the number Germany accepts. The British government claims that with help from its foreign-aid budget, it will supply housing and protection for refugees.

Austria is another popular destination for refugees, many of whom travel through the country on their way to Germany. Many foreigners traveling to Austria arrive in a small village near the Hungarian border, and the town is having trouble finding space for many of these visitors. The Austrian Red Cross says that finding accommodations is by far the greatest struggle.

The Obama administration has also pledged assistance, now agreeing to take in 100,000 refugees by 2017 to ease the strain on European countries. The United States has plans to try to increase the number of refugees they will accept while ensuring background checks to prevent terrorists from entering. Secretary of State John Kerry is working alongside Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier to try to find ways to end the war in Syria. Next week, the United States and Germany will be talking to the United Nations General Assembly to win support in sending more aid to refugee camps. Initially, Germany had pledged to admit 30,000 refugees, a number higher than that pledged by any other European country. Recently, however, Germany closed its borders temporarily to control the influx of migrants.

The refugee crisis has been causing heightened concerns in Europe for several months now as more people flee to European countries each day fearing for their lives.