Europe

Billionaire's Solution To Migrant Crisis: A Private Island

An Egyptian billionaire wants to buy a Mediterranean island for refugees fleeing to Europe.

Billionaire's Solution To Migrant Crisis: A Private Island
Getty Images / Nadine Rupp
SMS

Europe's migrant crisis has only been getting worse, and EU leaders are scrambling for a solution. On Friday the head of the U.N. refugee agency said EU countries must work together to accept 200,000 refugees.

But one Egyptian billionaire has a kind of out-of-the-box solution to the crisis.

The Egyptian Telecom mogul says he would buy a private island for the refugees to call home.

Naguib Sawiris tweeted, "Greece or Italy sell me an island, I'll call its independence and host the migrants and provide jobs for them building their new country."

He followed that up with a tweet saying, "Crazy idea .. Maybe but at least temporary until they can return to their countries ??!!"

It seems a little far fetched, especially considering Mediterranean islands go for millions of dollars.

But he's not the first wealthy person to propose this plan. San Francisco real estate tycoon Jason Buzi also proposed giving refugees their own country.

Until those dreams become reality, British Prime Minister David Cameron promised the U.K. will accept thousands more refugees directly from refugee camps. He didn't, however, go into specifics.