Tragedy Strike Shipwreck Claim 41 Live of Migrant near Italy
In a heart-wrenching incident, a shipwreck off the picturesque Italian island of Lampedusa has resulted in the tragic loss of 41 lives among migrants, survivors revealed to local media outlets. The grim episode unfolded as a group of four survivors recounted their harrowing experience, disclosing that they were part of a vessel that departed from Sfax, Tunisia, only to sink en route to Italy.
The four survivors, originally hailing from the Ivory Coast and Guinea, managed to reach the shores of Lampedusa on a fateful Wednesday. Their survival story brings to the fore the ongoing perilous journey undertaken by migrants seeking refuge in Europe from North African shores. Disturbingly, this year alone, over 1,800 lives have been claimed by the treacherous crossing.
Among the survivors, three men and a woman, their ordeal began on a boat carrying a total of 45 individuals, including three children. The ill-fated vessel, measuring about 7 meters in length, embarked from Sfax last Thursday. Tragedy struck within hours as a powerful wave engulfed the boat, leading to its sinking. Shockingly, only a fraction of the passengers, approximately 15 individuals, had access to life vests.
A glimmer of hope emerged when a cargo ship spotted the distressed survivors and initiated their rescue. Subsequently, the survivors were transferred to an Italian coast guard vessel, where they found safety. Notably, while the Italian coast guard reported two shipwrecks in the vicinity on Sunday, it remains uncertain if this particular incident is one of those reported.
Tunisian authorities have cited Sfax, located around 80 miles from Lampedusa, as a common embarkation point for migrants seeking a safer haven in Europe. Recent times have witnessed a surge in migration attempts from Tunisia, driven partly by growing racial tensions against black Africans. Against this backdrop, Italian patrol boats and humanitarian organizations have been tirelessly rescuing migrants, with an estimated 2,000 individuals reaching Lampedusa in recent days.
The Central Mediterranean route has gained a notorious reputation as the world's deadliest migrant crossing, as per records maintained by the United Nations. Tragically, more than 17,000 deaths and disappearances have been documented since 2014. This grim reality prompted the European Union to take action, signing a significant deal worth $118 million with Tunisia. The deal aims to curb irregular migration by investing in measures to counter smuggling, fortify borders, and facilitate the return of migrants.
Within Italy, the prevailing far-right government has implemented a policy that mandates rescue ships to dock at ports farther from Lampedusa and Sicily. The rationale behind this decision is to distribute the influx of arrivals across the country. However, critics, including NGOs, argue that this approach diminishes the effectiveness of patrols in areas prone to shipwrecks, potentially exacerbating the loss of lives.
As the global community mourns the lives lost in this recent shipwreck tragedy, the urgent need to address the perilous journey of migrants across the central Mediterranean becomes ever more pronounced. The hope is that international collaboration, investment in safer migration routes, and policies that prioritize human lives will ultimately lead to a reduction in the number of lives lost at sea.
Get the Latest World news along with Latest Tech News from India at Speed news.
