The total number of international migrants has increased from an estimated 175 million in 2000 to 244 million persons in 2015. Nearly two thirds of all international migrants live in Europe (76 million) or Asia (75 million). Migration is now more widely distributed across more countries. Today the top 10 countries of destination receive a smaller share of all migrants than in 2000.
One of every ten migrants is under the age of 15. The impact of remittance flows is also significant having reached $436 billion in 2014 – far exceeding official development assistance and, excluding China, foreign direct investment”. (United Nations)
The theme for 2018 is ‘Migration with Dignity’, so many people are not treated with dignity, look at how children are dealt with, especially in America.
I find it very worrying that 1 in every 10 migrants are under the age of 15! Can you imaging yourself aged 15, having to leave your home on your own, travel through war torn countries, risk your life, be in constant danger from the treat of strangers? I would not have been able to do that aged 15, nor would my children.
Of course, we are not just talking about migration into the UK, as the UN points out, there are many more migrants arriving in many more countries, meaning the top 10 countries have smaller number of new migrants than ever before, even though the numbers have increased.
So, on this International Migrants Day remember it doesn’t matter if a person is a Migrant or a Refugee, they have had good reason to leave their country and it is the responsibility of every individual and government to ensure migrants and refugees are treated with dignity.