site.bta International Organization for Migration Deputy Director General Thompson: 21st Century Is the Century of Migration

International Organization for Migration Deputy Director General Thompson: 21st Century Is the Century of Migration

Sofia, October 20 (BTA) - The 21st Century is the century of
migration, said here on Tuesday the International Organization
for Migration's (IOM) Deputy Director General, Laura Thompson,
while delivering a public lecture on the contemporary migration
tendencies. The lecture is organized by the Atlantic Club in
Bulgaria. 

There are currently 247 million international migrants in the
world and their number is expected to reach 405 million by 2050.
 The migration phenomenon is inevitable, necessary and desired,
especially when it is managed well, she commented, adding that
the management of migration processes requires a comprehensive
approach.

Thompson outlined the main reasons for migration as being
economic, natural disasters and conflicts.

She noted that 60 million people are currently displaced because
 of conflicts or war, which is the largest number since WWII.
Commenting the conflict in Syria, the IOM Deputy Director
General explained that there are a little over four million
refugees, who are mainly in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. Europe
has recieved over 500 million asylum applications by Syrian
nationals.

Regarding Bulgaria, Thompson noted that over 1.2 million
Bulgarians have left their country in the past 25 years. The
profiles of Bulgarian emigrants range from low-skilled workers
to highly educated professionals, she said.

Laura Thompson noted that Bulgaria's low birth rate and constant
 migration lead to a negative population growth. This means that
 this country could at some point also face the need to import
migrants if its economic development requires it.

Thompson further noted that over 23,500 migrants, refugees and
asylum seekers have arrived in Bulgaria in 2015, while over
10,000 asylum applications have been submitted as of October.
The majority of these people see Bulgaria as a transit country,
she explained.