Europe’s Deadly Mediterranean: A Call to Action
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Raven Ruma
- . June 20, 2023
- . Update: June 20, 2023 5:24 pm
As summer draws near, affluent Northern Europeans looking for leisure and relaxation flock to the Mediterranean coasts. But a gloomy reality lurks beneath the surface of the opulent ships and sun-drenched beaches. The Mediterranean, for those who have little left to live for, is a perilous body of water that divides their hopeless situation from a fantasy heaven. The way Europe handles the migrant problem is painfully illustrative of the stark gap between the haves and have-nots. A heartbreaking reminder of the complicity and inaction of European authorities is the recent boat disaster off the coast of Greece that claimed countless lives. It is past time to recognize the human cost of this catastrophe and call for a change in strategy.
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A Deadly Consequence of Fortress Europe
European governments must face the fact that their handling of migration has led to a humanitarian crisis and a large-scale drowning problem. On the Central Mediterranean route, this year’s first quarter alone saw more fatalities than any year since 2017. European nations have scaled back their maritime search and rescue efforts and made dubious agreements with other nations, transferring the burden and obligation to them. A stain on Europe’s conscience is this callous disregard for human life and the suffering of those who are imprisoned in detention facilities. European nations cannot escape responsibility for the blood on their hands, which is a result of their policies just as much as the people traffickers who profit from the suffering of others.
Discrimination and Lack of Safe Routes
There is no denying that asylum applicants experience discrimination based on their race and religion. A system that favours some refugees, such as Ukrainians with blond hair and blue eyes, while rejecting people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds, reinforces inequity and injustice. The crisis is only made worse by the lack of safe pathways for asylum seekers. If we want to solve the problem, we need to admit that these policies are not just immoral ethically, but also useless. As long as the underlying reasons of desperation are not addressed, people will continue to risk their lives to escape persecution, conflict, and economic collapse.
A Call for Action
We must look at the factors motivating people to set out on dangerous travels if we are to fully grasp the complexity of the Mediterranean problem. Significant variables include economic collapse, as seen in Lebanon, and the fall of nations like Syria and Afghanistan. The victims of the boat drowning were from areas like Deraa, which have turned into hotbeds of lawlessness and havens for people smugglers. The Syrian government continues to provide passports to young men who are trying to flee to Europe despite being well aware of the situation. Smuggling is a lucrative industry that thrives thanks to excessive costs and overland routes that take advantage of gaps in border protection.
The perseverance shown by refugees fleeing oppression and hopelessness is proof that European policies have failed. The situation cannot be resolved by merely going after human traffickers. By making investments in conflict resolution, economic stability, and the development of safe passageways for asylum seekers, Europe must address the underlying causes of displacement. World Refugee Day serves as a sobering reminder that these people are not just nameless statistics but rather living, breathing humans with aspirations for the future and the right to a decent life. Europe needs to examine its own complicity, rethink its strategy, and work towards comprehensive solutions that put humanity before politics.
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The Mediterranean should not be a graveyard for desperate souls seeking safety and a better future. Beyond maintaining border security, Europe has a duty to promote an equitable and sympathetic approach to the migrant problem. As the globe observes globe Refugee Day, we must push for structural change that deals with the causes of displacement at their source, establishes safe passageways, and accords refugees and asylum seekers the respect and dignity they merit. Since there are still casualties at sea and the Mediterranean remains a sombre reminder of our shared failure, the time for action is now.
