REFUGEES from Syria's civil war have flooded into Europe this year, retracing the routes used by European refugees in the 1940s. But this time the flow is moving in the opposite direction: towards Germany. The influx has spooked Europe’s right wing. But the fear-mongering seems petty when put in context. While around half Syria’s pre-war population have been displaced, most of them (almost 8m) remain in Syria. The 4m refugees who have left their homeland make it one of the worst refugee crises in decades (see chart 2). But only a fraction of those have made it as far as Europe. And even if they all came to the EU they would amount to a small demographic change in a club of more than 500m people—if evenly spread. The bulk of the refugees are in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Most are unable to work legally, and live in dire poverty. The World Food Programme has halved its assistance to the neediest Syrian refugees, providing just $13.50 per person per month. Little wonder so many are fleeing to the asylum and safety of Europe.

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