Macedonian Border Police yesterday allowed thousands of migrants, predominantly from Syria, to cross the border into the Serbia.

In the face of overwhelming numbers, the poor European nation decided to allow the refugees to cross into Serbia. Many of them are now expected to make a dash for Hungary, which they will use as a starting point to get into the European Union’s richer nations, such as Germany and the Nordic countries.

The Libya route seems to be, at least for the moment, petering out. One of the reasons for this is that the ongoing strife and increased lawlessness in the country. In tandem, the route from Turkey to some of the Greek islands is a lot shorter – barely an hour, compared to the days’ long journey from North Africa to Malta or Italy.

Although the route is still perilous, many are opting to continue their trek through Turkey and into the Balkans, with impoverished South Eastern European nations being able (or wanting) to do little to stem the tide. These nations are not bound by EU laws, so unless some form of assistance is given to them by the bloc, they will continue to allow people to stream through. Hungary, however, is an entirely different story. The country’s hard line Prime Minister has ordered a fence to be constructed on the border with Serbia. However, from what we have seen in Calais, it will not do much to stem the flow of desperate people.

Watching the footage of desperate families, pregnant women with children and distraught fathers trying to do what they can to seek a better life is harrowing to say the least. In today’s edition, two German Ministers put forward a 10-point plan to tackle the issue of migration on the ground. The bottom line is that misery in their home countries is forcing people to leave and seek a better life. Sometimes, people are insensitive to the plight of sub-Saharan Africans because they believe them to be economic migrants. Some are, and some are not. But the same definitely cannot be said about Syrian asylum seekers. Their country has been torn apart. The remnants of government troops are battling not only moderate troops, but also the brutal Islamic State regime. Whole cities have been reduced to rubble as the fighting rages on. How can anyone with any ounce of compassion turn them away.

France and the UK have had immigration issues in the past – both tied to their colonial histories. France took in huge numbers of immigrants from North Africa and West Africa, while the UK took in huge numbers of Indians and Pakistanis. The first generations of arrivals strove hard and tried to integrate. But subsequent decades of emarginalisation and ghettoisation, coupled with slim opportunities for education and jobs led to the gradual disenfranchisement of subsequent generations. What is the end game solution? Peace and stability. How do we achieve that aim? Put aside cultural and religious differences and help our fellow humans out. Will it ever happen? Don’t hold your breath. We are still as divided as we were two thousand years ago.