‘Crisis of Refugees’: insert following under the last sentence of that section

The refugee crisis peaked in 2015 and continues to be ongoing.  There are a variety of reasons why people flee their home countries to seek refuge elsewhere and often risk their lives in the process. In 2016, an estimated 362,000 refugees crossed the Mediterranean Sea in attempts to enter Greece and Italy due to dangers in their home countries. ^[1] In the first half of 2017, over 105,000 refugees and migrants entered Europe through the Mediterranean. ^[1] On September 27, 2019 a boat carrying at least 19 people destined for Chios Island capsized and seven people were killed, including five children and two women. ^[2] As of 2019, 63,311 people have crossed the Mediterranean towards Europe and at least 1,028 people have died as a result of drowning. ^[1]

Violence Against Women and Children

Violence against women and children is prevalent on migratory journeys and in refugee camps. ^[3] Gender-Based Violence is common among women who travel alone or with children because they are viewed by exploiters as vulnerable members of the population. ^[4] The most common forms of violence include rape and other sexual assault, human trafficking, and forced sex often used in exchange for passage to Europe via human smugglers. ^[4]  Europe’s biggest refugee camp is Moria Refugee Camp which was designed for 3,500 people, however, recently it has been reported to have at least 13,000 people living in the camp. ^[5] Moria Refugee Camp is thought to be an unsafe environment and on September 29, 2019 riots broke out due to the alleged inhumane conditions of the camp, leaving one woman and child dead. ^[6] As a result of the dangerous conditions that disproportionately affect women and children in the refugee camps, there are multiple NGO’s working on Lesvos island to improve conditions in the Moria refugee camp.  It is important to acknowledge the gender based violence that exists within the current refugee crisis in order to understand the inter-sectional forms of oppression and violence vulnerable members of the population are facing in the present day.