Context
September 2nd, 2022, marked seven years since Aylan Kurdi became a worldwide sensation highlighting the refugee crisis that was arising from the war in Syria. Yet, many migrants continue to lose their lives whilst trying to seek refuge. One such instance occurred recently with the death of three children on board a boat filled with migrants and refugees from Syria and Lebanon who were trying to reach Italy for job opportunities.
Significance of the Death of Aylan Kurdi
Migrant deaths across the Mediterranean Sea started as early as the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. The year 2015 really heightened the refugee crisis when photographs of a lifeless 3-year-old Syrian-Kurdish boy, Aylan Kurdi, began to circulate the world. The photograph depicted Kurdi’s body lying face down on a Turkish beach (Osmandizikovic, 2020). This image caught the media’s eye as it was shocking to see how a young boy had lost his life whilst trying to flee for his life. It quickly raised international awareness of the refugee crisis and led the EU to fully open its borders, though for a limited time (Osmandizikovic, 2020). Regardless, many have drowned and lost their lives whilst travelling across the Mediterranean Sea due to the lack of safe and legal ways to cross it.
The death anniversary of Kurdi is marked with an annual memorial service on the beach where his body was found (MUĞLA-Anadolu Agenc, 2021). The tragic death of Kurdi led Omer Sarikaya to direct a movie about his life and shed light on the unfortunate deaths of migrant/refugee children. However, during the 2021 memorial service, Sarikayastated that “thousands, maybe tens of thousands of Aylan babies have unfortunately lost their lives in these seas since that day. We hope that the world will not turn a blind eye to this and something like it will never happen again.” (Sarikaya, 2021). Not surprisingly, many refugees and asylum seekers continue to board these rather unsafe boats and take the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea to seek better opportunities in Europe.
Recent deaths across the Mediterranean Sea
Since early September 2022, Aljazeera has been posting news articles about migrants and refugees who have lost their lives whilst trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. These reports began as early as September 5th. Aljazeera initially reported how around 60 migrants and refugees had been stranded on a sinking fishing boat in the Mediterranean Sea for several days and are urging European coast guards to come to their rescue. Those onboard have communicated with their relatives and volunteer groups through a satellite phone, saying that“two young children have died, and that the group has been without food, water, and baby formula for the past three days”(Aljazeera, 2022). In addition, the interior of the boat is also struggling as more leakages are occurring onboard. Those onboard are trying to remove the water as fast as they can, but their abilities to do so are limited by the fact that they only have a few buckets on board, and one un-named migrant has claimed: “that’s all they have,” he adds how the “fishing boat is meant for five people, not 60” (Aljazeera, 2022). This reflects how lots of migrants and refugees board sailing vessels and trucks with little space as they want to escape their home countries and start living a better life in their host countries as soon as possible.
Interestingly, authorities along the coast of Malta and Italy have been informed about the situation at sea, yet no rescue operations have taken place to help save these stranded migrants. These migrants are worried that the increased leakages will cause the boat to sink at any time. Relatives that have been contacted through the satellite phone are also worried because, as one relative stated, “whenever I call, you can hear the children screaming and crying in the background; I don’t know why no government has taken action to rescue them, is it because they’re poor people trying to make ends meet for their families?” (Aljazeera, 2022). Another relative stated “the adults are handling the cold and lack of supplies okay, but the children are really struggling” (Aljazeera, 2022). Furthermore, The Doctors Without Borders (Medecins San Frontieres or MSF) organisation also posted on Twitter saying that the “Malta Search and Rescue Coordination Centres needs to take its responsibilities and comply with international and maritime laws NOW. Its lack of action is killing people. This is not acceptable” (MSF Sea, 2022). These claims illustrate how state actors and organisations are often slow to respond to such crises, and the words from relatives are extremely heartbreaking to hear.
As a result of no attempts being made to rescue those stranded, another child died on board due to dehydration which brings the total of children’s deaths while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to three. In addition, regarding a different boat in Maltese waters, a four-year-old girl drowned and lost her life during a rescue mission (Aljazeera, 2022). However, they did manage to rescue 62 people. UNHCR representatives have claimed that child deaths are occurring at sea due to the lack of resources onboard – “they died of thirst, hunger and severe burns” (Cardoletti, 2022). “The UN agency said more than 1,200 people have died or vanished this year while trying to cross the Mediterranean and reach Europe” (Aljazeera, 2022). Interestingly, this past month has seen more reports being made on the unfortunate death of children, yet mainstream media fails to acknowledge and bring awareness to them. This is shocking to see as we often view these children as just mere children, not refugees or migrants.
The Future of Migration
It is heartbreaking to read such stories of young refugee and migrant children who have died whilst at sea. The Mediterranean Sea is only one example where migrants and refugees get stranded at sea without sufficient resources and help. As Cardoletti claims, “strengthening rescue at sea is the only way to prevent these tragedies” states need to start enforcing new rules and laws so that they can bring about change. The future of migration should not see more children dying but rather see them survive and live their lives to their full potential.
References
Aljazeera. (2022). “‘Third child’ dies on migrant ship stranded in Mediterranean Sea”. Last accessed 14 September 2022, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/7/child-dies-migrant-ship-stranded-mediterranean-sea.
Aljazeera. (2022). “Dozens of Lebanese and Syrian refugees stranded for days at sea”. Last accessed 14 September 2022, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/5/dozens-of-lebanese-and-syrian-migrants-trapped-at-sea.
Aljazeera. (2022). “Infants among 6 Syrian refugees found dead on boat off Italy”. Last accessed 14 September 2022, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/12/six-syrian-refugees-found-dead-on-boat-reaching-sicily.
MUĞLA-Anadolu Agency. (2021). “Turkey marks 6 years since death of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi”. Last accessed 14 September 2022, from https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-marks-6-years-since-death-of-syrian-toddler-aylan-kurdi-167583.
Osmandizikovic, Emina. (2020). “The drowning of Aylan Kurdi.” Last accessed 14 September 2022, from https://www.arabnews.com/node/1660926.
Himani Chauhan is an International Relations & History graduate and is currently pursuing a Master of Migration Studies from Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand). She comes from a family of immigrants which has shaped her experiences, views, and interests in wanting to further explore and work in this area of study. Her area of interest includes – Migration, History and Human Rights.