Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has said the evolving hunger crisis linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine could lead to a renewed refugee surge at Europe's borders.
A former interior minister and hardliner on immigration, Mr Nehammer said the war was also being exploited by traffickers trying to operate illegal routes while the focus of world leaders is elsewhere.
At the start of a visit to Israel, Lebanon and Cyprus, he said using the World Food Programme to ease the food shortages caused by the standstill in the Black Sea was the only way to avoid a refugee crisis.
The European Union accuses Russia of deliberately engineering the food crisis, by bombarding Ukrainian grain stores and blockading the Black Sea, to increase the pressure on western countries punishing Moscow for the war.
The UN and Turkey are trying to broker an agreement to reopen the Black Sea, with only a small fraction of the stranded grain able to be rescued by workarounds such as river barges and rail wagons.
Mr Nehammer said Austria would offer an extra 20 million euros ($20m) for the WFP but called for the EU to do more because the refugee situation at home was “no longer manageable” as it is.
The Austrian government said 31,000 asylum applications had been made this year, almost three times the number in the same period of 2021.
It cited figures claiming Austria had a greater burden per head than almost any other EU country, but described stopping points Cyprus and Lebanon as two countries with an even greater refugee burden.
About two million displaced people are thought to live in Lebanon and “many move on to Europe and Austria,” the chancellor's office said. “This could be fuelled further by looming hunger emergencies in Africa”.
Mr Nehammer called for more powers to be given to Frontex, the EU's controversial border police, to control the bloc's external frontiers, as well as for more officers to be deployed to the agency.
“While the spotlight of European politicians and the public is on the war in Ukraine, criminals and traffickers are brutally exploiting the situation,” Mr Nehammer said.
“That threatens social harmony in our country and weakens the system for actual refugees or persecuted people, such as people in Ukraine, of whom Austria has taken 80,000 so far.”
Austria has long called for the EU to take a tougher stance on migration, having for instance insisted right up until the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan that illegal migrants could be deported there.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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4.
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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7.
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Singapore
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8.
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Australia
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9.
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Saudi Arabia
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10.
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South Korea
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Company profile
Name: Tharb
Started: December 2016
Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Luxury leather goods
Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
AS%20WE%20EXIST
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Kaoutar%20Harchi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%20Other%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20176%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The permutations for UAE going to the 2018 World Cup finals
To qualify automatically
UAE must beat Iraq.
Australia must lose in Japan and at home to Thailand, with their losing margins and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
To finish third and go into a play-off with the other third-placed AFC side for a chance to reach the inter-confederation play-off match
UAE must beat Iraq.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
SHAITTAN
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Selected fixtures
All times UAE
Wednesday
Poland v Portugal 10.45pm
Russia v Sweden 10.45pm
Friday
Belgium v Switzerland 10.45pm
Croatia v England 10.45pm
Saturday
Netherlands v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Denmark 10.45pm
Sunday
Poland v Italy 10.45pm
Monday
Spain v England 10.45pm
Tuesday
France v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Wales 10.45pm
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')