ROME — Wednesday’s lethal shipwreck off southern Greece, involving a big boat carrying migrants that capsized after apparently rebuffing gives of assist, is simply the most recent case of smugglers packing vessels stuffed with determined folks keen to threat their lives to achieve continental Europe.
The journey from Libya or Tunisia via the Central Mediterranean and north to Europe is the deadliest migratory route on this planet, in response to the U.N.’s Worldwide Group of Migration.
Right here’s a have a look at state of affairs within the Mediterranean and a few of the particulars of the most recent tragedy:
WHAT HAPPENED?
Greek coast guard, navy and service provider vessels and plane launched an unlimited search and rescue operation after the overcrowded fishing boat capsized and sank early Wednesday some 75 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of the southern Peloponnese peninsula.
To this point, 79 our bodies have been recovered and 104 folks have been rescued. It was unclear what number of have been lacking, however some preliminary experiences recommended lots of might have been aboard. If that’s confirmed, the wreck may develop into the deadliest to this point this yr.
WHAT ABOUT THE OFFERS OF HELP?
The coast guard stated the boat rebuffed a number of gives of help by each coast guard and service provider ships within the space beginning Tuesday. The company stated in an announcement that the ship’s captain “wished to proceed to Italy.”
Nevertheless, Alarm Cellphone, a community of activists who run a hotline for migrant boats in misery, stated that they had been involved with folks they imagine have been on the identical vessel and who have been deseperate for assist. The passengers reported that the captain had deserted the ship on a small boat earlier than it capsized, Alarm Cellphone stated.
Vincent Cochetel, the U.N. Excessive Commissioner for Refugees’ particular envoy for the Western and the Central Mediterranean, tweeted that “this boat was unseaworthy & it doesn’t matter what some folks on board might have stated, the notion of misery can’t be mentioned.”
Many migrants look to bypass Greece and attain Italy, the place they’ll extra simply proceed their journeys north to household and different migrant communities elsewhere.
Had the migrants been rescued by Greek authorities, they must trek via the customarily hostile Balkans to achieve Western or Northern Europe. The route north from Italy is nearer and sometimes extra accessible.
WHAT IS GREECE’S MIGRATION POLICY?
Most migrants to Greece cross from Turkey, both reaching the close by jap Greek islands in small boats or by crossing the Evros river — often known as the Meric in Turkey — which runs alongside the land border.
Crossings have fallen sharply in recent times as Greece stepped up sea patrols and constructed a border fence alongside the Evros. However the nation faces persisting allegations from migrants, human rights teams and Turkish officers that it returns migrants again throughout the border to Turkey, illegally stopping them from claiming asylum. Athens has repeatedly denied that.
Alarm Cellphone blamed Greece’s migration coverage for the shipwreck, saying Athens has develop into “Europe’s protect” to discourage migration. The Greek coast guard defended its actions, saying it had accompanied the vessel even after it refused help after which launched the search and rescue operation after the boat capsized.
WHAT ARE THE TRENDS IN MIGRANT ARRIVALS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN?
Italy has recorded the overwhelming majority of “irregular” arrivals in Europe to this point this yr, 55,160. That’s greater than double the 21,884 who arrived in the identical interval in 2022, and 16,737 in 2021. Individuals from Ivory Coast, Egypt, Guinea, Pakistan and Bangladesh account for essentially the most arrivals this yr, in response to Inside Ministry knowledge.
U.N. refugee officers observe that total numbers of migrants looking for to return to Europe this manner have been on the decline, to a median of round 120,000 yearly.
Along with the lethal Central Mediterranean route, the Western Mediterranean route is utilized by migrants looking for to achieve Spain from Morocco or Algeria. The Japanese Mediterranean route has historically been utilized by Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan and different non-African migrants who go first to Turkey after which attempt to attain Greece or different European locations.
HOW DANGEROUS IS THE MEDITERRANEAN?
Even earlier than Wednesday’s deaths, not less than 1,039 folks have been recognized to be lacking from Central Mediterranean crossings this yr. The actual determine is believed to be far greater given the probability that some wrecks have been by no means recorded. Total, the Worldwide Group of Migration has tallied greater than 27,000 lacking migrants within the Mediterranean since 2014.
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE WORST DISASTERS?
On April 18, 2015, the Mediterranean’s deadliest recognized shipwreck occurred when an overcrowded fishing boat collided off Libya with a freighter that was attempting to return to its rescue. Solely 28 folks survived. At first it was feared the hull held the stays of 700 folks. Forensic specialists who labored to determine the lifeless concluded in 2018 that there have been initially 1,100 on board.
On Oct. 3, 2013, a trawler filled with greater than 500 folks, many from Eritrea and Ethiopia, caught hearth and capsized close by of an uninhabited islet off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. Native fishermen rushed to attempt to assist save lives. In the long run, 155 survived and 368 folks died.
One other shipwreck occurred only a week afterward Oct 11 farther out at sea south of Lampedusa. The catastrophe has develop into recognized in Italy because the “slaughter of youngsters,” for the 60 kids among the many greater than 260 individuals who died. In 2017 the Italian newsweekly L’Espresso printed audio recordings of the migrants’ determined requires assist and Italian and Maltese authorities seemingly delaying the rescue.
HOW HAS MIGRATION DIVIDED EU NATIONS?
Mediterranean nations have for years complained that they bear the brunt of receiving and processing migrants and have lengthy demanded different nations step up and take them in.
Poland, Hungary and different Japanese European nations have repeatedly refused an EU plan to share the burdens of caring for migrants. However after years of bickering, EU leaders final week stated there was a breakthrough in negotiations for a brand new migration and asylum pact.
Human rights teams say the EU has been outsourcing migrant rescues to the Libyan coast guard, which returns them to horrific camps the place many are subjected to beatings, rape and different abuse. The EU and member states have additionally struck agreements with different North African nations to enhance their border management and cease migrant boats from reaching Europe.
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