Winter Is Coming, Along With More Refugees... to Germany

The number of refugees arriving daily in Austria en route to Germany has reached 4,122, according to a new report. The government predicts the number to fall during the winter months as harsh weather conditions hamper the journey across the high seas. However, according to reports in German media, Chancellor Angela Merkel's predictions are wrong.

The Welt am Sonntag newspaper cites "intelligence services" for the reason why Germany is wrong and the numbers of refugees arriving in the country will in fact rise over the coming months. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) told the newspaper it predicted an increase rather than a decrease.

858,805 migrants incl.refugees arrived by sea to Europe 3,548 dead/missing https://t.co/RFhiLzlxOY #MigrationEurope pic.twitter.com/yVQaGrnzyK

— IOM (@IOM_news) November 24, 2015​

Around 7.6 million people have been internationally displaced outside Syria, with 4 million having left the country so far. The UN Refugee Agency concurs and believes more people will be forced to flee Syria and travel to Europe.

The cold winter weather, hoped by many European countries to stem the influx of refugees also poses new problems. Temperatures on Germany's border with Austria have dropped below zero. Migrants are arriving unprepared for sub-zero conditions in countries equally unprepared to house them humanely.

Around 42,000 refugees are still being put up in temporary tents. Relief organization Caritas has issued a warning that refugees could freeze to death.

New, uncoordinated restrictions at borders in Balkans causing frustration & protests https://t.co/fN2OtTuJrt pic.twitter.com/9E2zptzsbo

— UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) November 26, 2015​

According to Welt am Sonntag, the tents on the Austrian-German border are unsuitable but authorities have said they intend to improve conditions and house people in larger tents with heating and hot water "in the next weeks." 

The DPA news agency reported that there were still shortcomings in the accommodation being made available for refugees while snow falls in many parts of Germany, including Bavaria.

Further east, where wintry conditions arrived earlier, asylum seekers and migrants have found themselves stranded in no-man's land on Slovenia's border with Austria — meaning they are stuck in freezing conditions, whilst waiting to be allowed to continue their journeys.

The cold may last for what feels like a life-time for refugees and migrants, with many others following in their footsteps, whether the weather. However once in Europe, many are faced with an equally chilly reception.