Hundreds of African migrants lose their lives every year while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better life in Europe. The latest tragedy has seen at least 17 people perish and around 60 individuals go missing, including many children, after two ships were wrecked off the coast of southern Italy.
The first shipwreck involved a rescue ship operated by a German aid group, which rescued 51 individuals believed to be migrants from a sinking wooden vessel. Tragically, two of the survivors were unconscious and had to be freed with the use of an axe. Ten bodies were discovered trapped on the flooded lower deck of the wooden ship near the Italian island of Lampedusa.
The migrants on board hailed from Syria, Egypt, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, as confirmed by the Organisation for Migration and UNICEF in a joint statement. The survivors were rescued by the Italian coastguard and brought ashore, while the vessel containing the deceased was towed to Lampedusa.
In a separate incident, a yacht carrying migrants caught fire and capsized about 125 miles east of Calabria, resulting in the death of a woman upon arrival and the rescue of 12 individuals, including a pregnant woman and two children. Tragically, six bodies were later found off Calabria by the Italian Coast Guard.
Survivors reported that 66 people, including 26 children, are still missing, with some from Afghanistan presumed dead. The yacht may have been taking on water for several days, and the passengers were not equipped with life jackets. Shockingly, some passing vessels did not stop to offer assistance to the distressed migrants.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, reported that the migrants involved in the shipwreck off Calabria originated from Iran, Iraq, and Syria. The Italian coastguard and EU border agency Frontex have launched a search operation to locate any potential survivors from the tragic incidents.
This latest loss of life underscores the perilous journey that many migrants undertake in search of a better future, often facing harsh conditions and indifference from passing vessels. The international community must address the root causes of migration and strengthen efforts to prevent further tragedies at sea.
