Lithuania needs to prepare for new residents from abroad. Due to climate change, our land will become more and more attractive to foreigners. Now there are 281 million migrants in the world, of which 28 million are – children. The LNK journalist talked to Eitvydus Bingelis, the head of the Vilnius office of the International Organization for Migration, about where the greatest migration of people is and how soon Lithuania can feel the ever-increasing flow of applicants to live here.
– When we talk about the largest migration flows, I would like to point out that the largest migration takes place in the continents themselves. If we look at this huge number – 281 million. – this is about 115 million in the context of Asian countries alone. migrants, more than half of whom migrate in Asia itself. In Europe, it is estimated that there are about 87 million international migrants, of which 44 million are the same Europeans.
– But due to conflicts, disasters, violence and other reasons, the number of displaced persons in recent years reaches 117 million. and this is a record number in all of modern history. These numbers can probably be more frightening. And then the question arises, are those conflicts, violence, disasters really the main causes of migration?
– Maybe I should clarify here, the English term would be “internally displaced people”, it means to move inside the country against one’s will. It can be some kind of natural disasters, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, as well as military conflicts. This number of people has increased compared to last year. To a large extent, it is even caused by climate change. Eastern Somalia alone experienced one of the worst droughts and deprivations in 40 years, 27 million people. people lacked food.
The entire LNK report is in the video:
– Well, climate change is probably one of the most frightening reasons. Now, let’s say, Lithuania can choose to pay Brussels and not accept migrants or accept them. But in the future, with the climate changing so rapidly, Lithuania will probably have no choice – they will have to accept it.
People try to migrate within their core regions.
– I might separate this topic a bit. We have different groups of migrants. These are people who travel to other countries due to labor migration, refugees for whom it is no longer safe to be in their own country. When we talk about the European Union, it is the requests of asylum seekers, refugees to come to the European Union and here there is a separate regulation to share this flow between the states. And in the general context, Lithuania’s quota is about 130 people, when we currently have more than 200 thousand. resident foreigners.
– But Europe is right next to Africa. And climate change, especially in hot regions, will still start to push those people sooner or later. Do you not think that migration to Europe will start to increase very strongly?
– I would say that not only Africa is affected, but also certain countries in Asia. I would also add that more than half of the people stay in the main territory of their migration, namely within the framework of the continent. People try to migrate within their core regions. On the other hand, we see that those international transfers, where people make transfers to their home countries, recently reached more than 800 billion. dollars. Even people who work in other countries contribute significantly to the development and growth of their country’s economy. And it is also relevant to mention that the number of international students has increased. In 20 years, it has increased from 2 million. to more than 6 million This also gives a signal that those countries that have more international students, they learn there, apply the knowledge, after returning to their countries, they help developing countries to grow faster.
