UK to take tougher measures to stem migration

The UK is taking tougher measures to control and stem migration at the source as Europe braces itself for an increased flow of refugees over the next three years.

An analysis report by Austrian military intelligence has predicted the possible number of African migrants to Europe by 2020 will reach 15 million–more than the populations of Greece and Ireland combined. The study found that between 2013 and 2016, more than half a million Africans immigrated to EU countries, with about 100,000 coming from Eritrea and 60,000 from Somalia.

British government inside sources have said that the government wants “to do more than pull migrants out of the water,” it wants “to stop them before they get there.”

“We are focusing on the region to stop migrants at the source and by taking on terror in Africa it means we can stop terrorism spreading to the UK,” the source added.

The UK has recently sent troops to Sierra Leone as part of its efforts to stem the flow of refugees from West Africa. The British troops have already undergone jungle training along with Sierra Leone troops as part of their mission. Nearly 90 British soldiers jointly trained with 25 soldiers from Sierra Leone to learn the skills to live and fight in the environment.

Talking about the joint jungle training, defense secretary Sir Michael Fallon said that this “is just the latest example of the UK stepping up globally to tackle international threats that put Britain at risk.”

“By helping our allies defeat terrorism and international crime around the world, our Armed Forces make the world more stable making Britain more secure and our streets safer.”

Since 2015 the UK has sent at least six Royal Navy ships with Mediterranean anti-smuggling operations, to help save migrants endangered by reckless smugglers and to limit human trafficking and smuggling operations by criminal gangs.

In December, British PM Theresa May promised to send dozens of staff to help Greek officials fast track the return of economic migrants “which are likely to be deemed inadmissible” after their asylum processes was reviewed.

As the migrant crisis grows out of control, other European countries are also taking stronger measures to curb the flow of refugees. Italy has recently announced it will take tougher measures on migrants who were ordered by courts to leave the country. In a bid to stop refugees before they embark on the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Italy, the country’s interior minister is set to visit Libya to discuss bilateral cooperation to control the flow of migrants from North Africa to Italy.