AlQa'dah 6, 1436, Aug 21, 2015, SPA -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel is to step up her response next week to a surge in immigration that Germany has termed a major logistical challenge, flying to a city where tensions among immigrants have hit the headlines. According to dpa, she is also set to meet with leaders of Balkan states, the starting place for many of the migrants heading for Germany, and admonish them to fix problems that are driving their populaces to flee. Despite isolated acts of racist violence, Germans appear to accept they are duty bound to take in those fleeing wars. Officials forecast this week that 800,000 people, equivalent to 1 per cent of the country's present population, would arrive and demand asylum this year. A monthly survey for the country's ZDF television found Friday that a rising majority of Germans are confident their country can cope. The proportion agreeing rose to 60 per cent, from 54 per cent in July.
