Saudi Arabia advances 22 ranks in World Bank's Statistical Performance Index    EXPRO chief: Financial proceeds of expenditure efficiency amounted to SR1.15 trillion    Saudi drivers' income from delivery applications reaches SR1.1 billion in first 9 months of 2024    Eng. Aiman Al-Mudaifer appointed Acting CEO of NEOM    Saudi Champion Saeed Al-Mouri scores notable feat in Radical World Championship in Abu Dhabi with support from Bin-Shihon Group    'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' to dazzle audience in Tokyo on Nov. 22    Pakistan PM visits MWL headquarters in Makkah    Riyadh: The hub of wisdom and the pillar of solidarity    Toxic smog in Pakistan is so bad you can see it from space    New Zealand PM says sorry for 'horrific' care home abuse    New arrests made in Amsterdam over violence after football match    Climate fight 'bigger than one election', says Biden's top envoy    Saudi Arabia launches Young Researchers Awards at UNCCD COP16 science pavilion Total prize pool of $70,000 for students and researchers from across the world    Culture minister inspects archaeological sites and cultural projects in Al-Ahsa    Red Sea International Film Festival returns to Al Balad in its fourth edition    Rita Ora is tearful in tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Awards    'Art of the Kingdom': First traveling exhibition of contemporary Saudi art launched in Rio de Janeiro    France to deploy 4,000 police officers for UEFA Nations League match against Israel    Al Nassr edges past Al Riyadh with Mane's goal to move up to third    Al Ahli continues strong form with 2-0 win over Al Raed in Saudi Pro League    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Lost at sea
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 05 - 10 - 2013

The deadly shipwreck off Lampedusa in Italy which killed 110 people and left hundreds missing is all too common. Lampedusa is the closest Italian island to Africa, the first point of entry to Europe, and so has become a destination for tens of thousands of refugees seeking to enter European Union countries to start a better life. The number of deaths, although seldom on the scale seen on the island of Lampedusa on Thursday, is the latest in the hundreds of incidents of lives being lost at sea in a voyage of desperation.
Had they arrived safely on shore, these passengers from Eritrea, Somalia and Ghana, probably with no papers, and whose sole goal was to feed and shelter themselves and their families, would probably have spent a day or a week on Lampedusa before moving to another city on the mainland. But they never made it. Boats carrying migrants often are in peril. Migrants are often sent to sea in overcrowded vessels without the engine power to make a one or two-day dangerous journey. That weather conditions on Thursday were not significant enough to be likely to sink a boat attests to the flimsiness of these rickety vessels.
There is a rising global phenomenon of migrants and people fleeing conflict or persecution and perishing at sea in boats that are barely seaworthy. Furious demands are being made for an end to the dangerous trafficking of people, across the Mediterranean in particular. But it is hard to curb the flow with so many people desperate for a chance to make a new life in Europe, and with traffickers in so many ports ready to take their money. Without the necessary paperwork, the only way for migrants to get to Europe is to put themselves and their lives in the hands of criminal gangs.
More must be done to prevent further loss of life. This is not just an Italian problem but one that affects all of Europe. Both Italy and the European Union must do more to safeguard the thousands who risk their lives each year in the hope of protection or a better life. It is not enough to increase search-and-rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea for that is an after-the-fact mission. There must be effective alternatives so people do not risk their lives trying to make perilous journeys by sea.
In recent years, the Italian Coast Guard has been involved in the rescue of more than 30,000 refugees around the island. It is a noble mission. However, instead of rescuing people right and left, the world should help prevent such people from putting themselves in a position in which they have to be rescued. This means providing them with their rights, such as basic living conditions. So instead of trying to make sure that migrants are being tracked by satellite phones to prevent them from coming to harm, it would be infinitely better if migrants were not forced to make such trips in the first place.
The Lampedusa vessel sank near Rabbit Beach, recently voted one of the best beaches in the world. But the migrants were not going on holiday; they went to seek a better life, but paid with their lives.
It used to be the Canary Islands that were the target of migrants, after which the pressure moved to the central Mediterranean, then Greece, and then with the Arab Spring, it moved back to Italy. The destinations were different but the reasons for the trips are the same, and in so many cases, the results, too, are tragically similar.


Clic here to read the story from its source.