02/01/2016 Reporters

I'm Chris Morris on the Greek island of Lesbos. In a range of reports, we

will be focusing on a year that saw the biggest influx of people into

Europe since World War Two. Coming up: Exodus. I'm from Iraq. Syria.

Afghanistan. Matthew Price follows thousands of refugees, -- arriving

here in Lesbos in search of a better life. Gabriel Gatehouse get a

close-up view of the rescue operation of the Italian coast. You

can barely stand up. There are 250 people crammed down here. And Fergal

Keane meets 116 -year-old who has made the 3500 kilometre journey from

Syria to Germany. -- meets the 16-year-old. I want to meet the

Queen and find William! Is the world changed in 2015, as long-running

conflict in Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan and other parts of the

world forced thousands of people to flee their homes in search of a

better life. Nearly 1 million people entered Europe by sea, creating the

worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. EU ministers

agreed a plan to relocate around 120,000 refugees across Europe in

September but it has not had much impact yet. Greece became a focal

point for migrants fleeing from the Middle East and North Africa as they

made their way towards Central Europe. Matthew Price said the

support as the EU deal was agreed and thousands more arrived here in

Lesbos. This is what it feels like to survive. (SOBBING). Almost

overwhelmed by the waves and then overwhelmed with relief. And some

were just in shock. It is the scale of this crisis that has so far

outwitted Europe's leaders. The remains of this great migration

litter the coastline here. A life jacket left behind by every person

who has made this dangerous trip for mile after mile after mile. And

still they come. Six drown in these waters every day and now the weather

has turned. That did not slow them today but it did chill them to the

bone. There are two things during this. One is the instability, the

walls on the other side of the water in places like Syria and Iraq. --

the war. That is pushing people. But what is drawing them and helping

them, is an increasingly complex smuggling network that gets them

across this short stretch of water. European politicians have not so far

come up with a response to that. There are people here from all over.

I'm from Iraq. Iraq. Syria, Syria. Syria. Afghanistan. Syria. Iraq.

Mosul of them tell us they're leaving war and violence behind. --

almost all of them. Some say they just want a better life. Today's

deal in Brussels will see them distributed across the continent.

Some in Europe will be angered by that. They will even fear it. Others

will think it is the right thing to do. But it will not bring an end to

this mass movement. The sheer number of lifejackets abandoned on this

speech gives you some idea of the scale of what has been happening

here, but the migration crisis has not just been about the Greek

islands. Tens of thousands of people have crossed the dangerous waters of

the Mediterranean between Libya and Italy. It is about eight times the

width of the English Channel between England and France. Fine if you are

on a luxury liner but not you are packed onto a migrant boat. What

vessels is usually kept well away from the public eye but Gabriel

Gatehouse has spent time on a boat owned by a private American charity

to get some idea of what it is like to cross the Mediterranean as a

migrant. It is mid-morning when the search and rescue team aboard the

Phoenix catch sight of the first boat, a blue smudge on the horizon.

It is a wooden vessel designed to carry around one dozen fishermen but

there are 560 migrants on board here, half of them crammed below

deck out of sight. What we are doing is deliberately approaching the boat

not from the side but from behind. That is to stop everyone from

rushing over to one side and potentially capsizing the boat. The

boat is so overpacked that one false movement could capsize it. What have

you got? Women and children! On the deck of the migrant boat, the last

remaining men are still waiting anxiously amid the few abandoned

belongings of those who have already been rescued. How are you? OK? Yes?

Tired and hungry. But below deck, conditions were far worse. You can

barely stand up. In fact, you cannot stand up here. There were 250 people

crammed down here and you can see that there is water coming into the

boat here. It is really boiling down here. You can imagine people here

for hours on end crammed in together with nowhere to go to the toilet. As

the day wears on, more vessels appear. By noon, there are more than

2500 people drift around us. But helped is on its way. Ships from

various European neighbours are co-ordinating efforts here at boat.

Hello. The migrants themselves will all be taken back to Sicily. What

happens to them then is a matter of heated political debate and have

huge uncertainty for those desperate to make Europe their home. Back in

Europe and back on Lesbos and many people arriving here want to go to

Germany. It is the most popular destination. Fergal Keane followed

the story of a 16-year-old girl, 19, who travelled more than 3000

kilometres from Syria to Germany, where she wants to apply for asylum.

-- Nadine. This is her story. There are big plans being made now but

nobody really knows how or when this will end. If any EU plan can prevent

the arrival of tens of thousands seeking a new life in Europe. Like

Najine, who we first met on the Hungarian border, trying to find her

brother in Germany. A disabled 16-year-old with big dreams. I want

to be a nurse when I grow up. And I will find William, yes. I want to

meet the Queen. Yes! But in Europe, including Britain, which by the

Syrian refugees stayed in the Middle East. That is why 1 billion euros

have been pledged to help countries like Turkey. That is where Najine

set out to try and reach Germany with her sister, helped by a family

friend. And here she is at the end of her nearly 4000 mile journey on a

train to meet her brother in Germany. Jory needs no translation.

-- joy. I have heard a lot from the Jews and migrants about what Europe

can give to them but let me ask you, what can your family give to

Europe? -- I have heard from many refugees and migrants. The most

important thing that we can give here is to give good example about

our people and about the country we came from. Here in northern Germany,

Najine is on her way to apply for asylum. As a Syrian refugee, she has

a good chance. Najine was born with cerebral palsy. She believes that

advanced medical help here could enable her to walk. I did my best. I

came to the right place and hopefully they will help me when you

look into the future, do you ever see a day when you might bring your

gifts, the great gift of inspiration that you have, you might bring that

back to Syria, to your people? I'm not really sure. It will take a

long, long time before Syria gets back up. Will Syria get back out?

Yes, she will. I'm sure of that. And many more have already abandoned

Syria, and a nation that loses the childlike Najine is losing its best.

-- a child like Najine. That is all from the special edition of

Reporters, focusing on the European migration crisis. Goodbye for now.