The German Red Cross (DRK) on Thursday said it received 2,700 inquiries from migrants seeking missing relatives in Germany this year, including 1,000 of them for unaccompanied minors.

The humanitarian aid organization said the figures are considerably high despite fewer migrant arrivals in 2017.

Read more: Germany's local authorities need help getting jobs for refugees

Missing in Europe

- In 2016, DRK registered about 2,800 inquiries for missing persons

- Europol said some 10,000 children had gone missing in Europe during the 2015 migration crisis

- More than 75 percent of Europe-bound youth are subjected to forced labor, sexual abuse, child marriage and other forms of exploitation, according to the UN

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Fleeing war and poverty In late 2014, with the war in Syria approaching its fourth year and Islamic State making gains in the north of the country, the exodus of Syrians intensified. At the same time, others were fleeing violence and poverty in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Niger and Kosovo.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Seeking refuge over the border Vast numbers of Syrian refugees had been gathering in border-town camps in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan since 2011. By 2015, with the camps full to bursting and residents often unable to find work or educate their children, more and more people decided to seek asylum further afield.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? A long journey on foot In 2015 an estimated 1.5 million people made their way on foot from Greece towards western Europe via the "Balkan route". The Schengen Agreement, which allows passport-free travel within much of the EU, was called into question as refugees headed towards the wealthier European nations.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Desperate sea crossings Tens of thousands of refugees were also attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean on overcrowded boats. In April 2015, 800 people of various nationalities drowned when a boat traveling from Libya capsized off the Italian coast. This was to be just one of many similar tragedies - by the end of the year, nearly 4,000 refugees were reported to have died attempting the crossing.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Pressure on the borders Countries along the EU's external border struggled to cope with the sheer number of arrivals. Fences were erected in Hungary, Slovenia, Macedonia and Austria. Asylum laws were tightened and several Schengen area countries introduced temporary border controls.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Closing the open door Critics of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's "open-door" refugee policy claimed it had made the situation worse by encouraging more people to embark on the dangerous journey to Europe. By September 2016, Germany had also introduced temporary checks on its border with Austria.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? Striking a deal with Turkey In early 2016, the EU and Turkey signed an agreement under which refugees arriving in Greece could be sent back to Turkey. The deal has been criticized by human rights groups and came under new strain following a vote by the European Parliament in November to freeze talks on Turkey's potential accession to the EU.

How did Europe's refugee crisis start? No end in sight With anti-immigration sentiment in Europe growing, governments are still struggling to reach a consensus on how to handle the continuing refugee crisis. Attempts to introduce quotas for the distribution of refugees among EU member states have largely failed. Conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere show no signs coming to an end, and the death toll from refugee sea crossings is on the rise. Author: Rachel Stewart



Unknown fates

German Red Cross President Gerda Hasselfeldt said:

- "Most frightening is the consistently high number of unaccompanied minor refugees, who are either looking for their own family or are sought by them."

- "For families, there is nothing worse than not knowing whether a relative is still alive or what might have happened to them."

- "Since identifying the dead on various migration routes isn't always possible, many (of the missing persons') fates will remain unclear."

Watch video 12:04 Share Refugees on Lesbos Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2pTrj 'Catastrophic': Refugees on Lesbos

What are the reasons for going missing: There are many factors behind a person's disappearance, including death, kidnapping and being sold into slavery. However, sometimes a migrant will apply for asylum with different authorities in several countries, which can create issues with reporting on where a person is located.

What happens to missing children: Law enforcement agencies across Europe have warned that unaccompanied minors traveling alone are most prone to exploitation from criminal organizations. Frequently children fleeing alone have been subject to sexual exploitation and unpaid labor.

Why the number of missing persons has spiked in Europe: In 2015, hundreds of thousands of migrants arrived in Europe, many of them fleeing war in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. With so many people traveling across long distances and several borders, already-burdened migration authorities were unable to keep track of everyone entering and exiting their respective countries.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Stuck on the Aegean European funding for NGOs responding to the migrant crisis on the Greek islands came to an end in August. Since then the Greek state alone has been responsible for dealing with the asylum-seekers. But there was no clear transition plan, and gaps in humanitarian services have become apparent throughout Lesbos.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Neither here nor there Moria, the main reception facility in Lesbos, and other such camps are unable to cope with the continuing arrivals of small numbers of asylum-seekers. Tensions are high; frustration quickly turns into aggression, fights between individuals morph into fights between different ethnic groups.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Fresh and clean Discarded shampoo and water bottles lie next to an improvised shower outside Moria. Due to a shortage of hygienic facilities in the camp, many people there look for other options. They see the failure to provide adequate facilities as a deliberate strategy to worsen living conditions.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Waiting for a decision Aman from Eritrea apologizes for not being able to offer tea or water in his tent. He has been waiting for a decision on his asylum request since he arrived in Lesbos three months ago. "There are too many problems inside Moria." Overcrowded shelters and tensions between different groups often results into fights.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse 'We are human' An Afghan asylum-seeker prepares signs for a protest against the poor conditions in Moria. Most of the Afghans protesting have been on Lesbos for over a year and are still waiting for a response to their asylum bids. Lack of information, tough living conditions and the fear of being deported back to Afghanistan leave many of them in a constant state of anxiety.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse The limits of generosity Residents of Lesbos discuss the Afghans' protest. The refugee crisis has led to a massive decline in tourism on Lesbos, down by almost 75 percent this year compared to 2015. Greece's ongoing economic crisis has also had a great impact on the island. Although many locals are sympathetic to the asylum-seekers's needs, they don't think Greece is capable of hosting them right now.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Two weeks against helplessness Volunteers have been filling gaps, such as providing health care, which is in great demand. German doctor Juta Meiwald came to Lesbos for two weeks to help. She says many of the health problems are a result of the living conditions at Moria. Those in the camps have complained that, regardless of their afflictions, doctors there generally just give them painkillers.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Reclaiming life At the Mosaik Support Center asylum-seekers transform life vests collected on the beach into bags and wallets. Activities like this are a welcome interruption to the monotony of life in the camps, in addition to giving those stuck here, like this Iranian woman, a small income.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse New arrivals every day Since early 2015, new arrivals have been obliged to stay on the island until their asylum claims are processed. But a backlog of applications and a lengthy appeals process have meant only a fraction of cases have been assessed. Over 14,000 migrants arrived in Greece this year, according to the UN refugee agency. Last year Greece granted asylum to around 12,500 people, while 173,000 came. Author: Vincent Haiges (Lesbos)



What happens next: The German Red Cross will attempt to find the missing persons. In the case they are unsuccessful, the inquiries are handed over to authorities who may have access to international networks and databases. If a person is found, legal options on reunion may be explored.

ls/rt (dpa, KNA)