By Carolina Espinal

It was the outbreak that circled every social media platform, it was the wave that impacted countries worldwide and it was the global phenomenon that triggered an immediate call to action: the European migrant crisis- otherwise known as the European refugee crisis emerged from a surge of refugees and migrants coming into the European Union (EU).

The origin of the dilemma arose in the presence of a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea when five boats transporting over 2,000 migrants to Europe sank, 1,200 of them were killed. With the presence of war, poverty and oppression: an abundance of migrants, also victims of forced migration, have been left with a life-determining ultimatum—to flee their home country in search of a better life and potential asylum or to stay in suppression.

“In the face of growing questions about such small numbers, President Barack Obama ordered his administration to ‘scale up’ the number of Syrian refugees,” according to CNN.

Prior receiving asylum, refugees must go through an application process that involves an interview and grants a temporary stay, but that ultimately decides their case. If granted status, refugees are welcomed to reception centers, given communal accommodation or possibly even housed individually.

Amidst the rude awakening, migrants have fled to Greece, Italy and Central Europe. The outcries, stretching beyond controllable boundaries have triggered international initiative from thousands worldwide—thousands of which have taken their stance to Facebook and other social media sites to project their voices on the matter that left thousands displaced.

As Europe demonstrates itself incapable of handling the influx of migrants, which has been the greatest mass movement of people Europe has witnessed since 1945, other countries like Germany and Hungary are establishing border controls in efforts to physically deal with the migrant crisis (e.g. establishing a container wagon covered in razor wire to block the passage of a popular migrant route).

Other uncertainties in regards to open borders have provoked tension amongst EU states, which remain in defense over sharing the burden of migrants by refusing to collaborate with mandatory quotas. Germany’s federal government, however being able to handle the surge of refugees, believes the burden should be shared thoroughly among other EU states.

According to BBC, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere believes, “Germany is facing up to its humanitarian responsibility, but the burdens connected with the large number of refugees must be distributed in solidarity.”

It was the outpour that threatened and continues to menace the European Union. European Migrant Aid is still expected to welcome over a million migrants. This crisis has opened the public’s eyes, presenting the EU with a challenge and the migrants with a chance for a new life.