The New York TimesThe New York Times

A new refugee crisis stirs uncomfortable issues for Europe

By Erika Solomon and Monika Pronczuk

03 Nov 2022 · 6 min read

Editor's Note

The war in Ukraine has created a humanitarian crisis as millions of refugees seek shelter in Europe. The tensions arising from the situation make political fallout increasingly likely.

In Brussels, asylum-seekers are forced to shelter in cardboard boxes on the street. Across southern Germany, small-town mayors are opening gyms and auditoriums to house ever more refugees. And in the Netherlands, where a 3-month-old baby died this year, the government is being sued for inhumane camp conditions.

With Russia waging war on its doorstep, Europe has taken in 4.4 million Ukrainians this year, in addition to more than 365,000 first-time asylum applicants, many fleeing threats in Syria and Afghanistan.

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