The Tragedy of Human Trafficking: Sinking Boat Off the Italian Coasts Causes Sixty Victims
Admin GHRTV
Date: 26/02/2023
Laura Libertini
Europe and Human Rights Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence
In the morning of Sunday, February 26th, 2023, the coasts of southern Italy saw the sinking of a wooden boat carrying more than 150 people. The tragedy took place in the littoral of Calabria, in the province of Crotone, in the southern part of Italy.
The boat was carrying approximately 150 refugees (the number is still uncertain) coming from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Syria before crashing into the rocks fifty meters from the seashore. Sixty bodies have been found, including a newborn baby and a couple of twins. Forty-six were found in Cutro, where the tragedy took place, three others on the beach of Botricello, in the province of Catanzaro, eight more in "Le Castella" of Isola Capo Rizzuto and one in Crotone. Eighty people survived, twenty of whom have been hospitalized due to severe injuries. The survivors have been brought to the reception center of Isola Capo Rizzuto. They are reunited together, in shock after the nightmare they have been living, waiting for the outcome of the research operations. A woman was desperately shouting the name of her son, who is among the missing people.
It is believed that the vessel has sailed from Turkey in the hope to reach Europe, and now two Turkish nationals are accused of human trafficking and smuggling. After the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey more than two weeks ago, the Turkish route became more accessible for refugees and asylum seekers.
As the Italian coastguard, firefighters, police and Red Cross rescue workers continue the research and the investigations, the UN high commissioner for refugees Filippo Grandi, called for prompt actions from Bruxelles, urging European governments to “stop arguing” and “agree on just, effective, shared measures to avoid more tragedies”. The Italian President Sergio Mattarella flew on the tragedy site to express his sorrow, calling for a “strong commitment of the international community to wipe out the causes of migration flows; wars, persecution, terrorism, poverty, territories made inhospitable by climate change". It is equally crucial - he adds - that the European Union finally undertakes responsibility adopting policies to regulate the phenomenon of migration – especially illegal migration - to remove it from the hands of human traffickers.
Sources and Further Readings:
ANSA. (2023, February 26). Strage di migranti a Cutro: forse oltre 100 morti, anche due gemellini e un neonato. ANSA. Retrieved on February 26, 2023, from https://www.ansa.it/calabria/notizie/2023/02/26/strage-di-migranti-a-crotone-si-temono-oltre-100-morti.-tra-le-vittime-molti-bambini.-fermato-un-sospetto-scafista_7c0f0273-c973-4991-9c5c-b2c5ec0b89ee.html
Giuffrida, A. (2023, February 26). Children among 58 people killed in sailboat crash off Italy’s coast. The Guardian. Retrieved on February 26, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/26/dozens-of-bodies-believed-to-be-refugees-found-on-beach-in-southern-italy
In the morning of Sunday, February 26th, 2023, the coasts of southern Italy saw the sinking of a wooden boat carrying more than 150 people.
The boat was carrying approximately 150 refugees (the number is still uncertain) coming from Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Syria before crashing into the rocks fifty meters from the seashore. Sixty bodies have been found, including a newborn baby and a couple of twins. Eighty people survived, twenty of whom have been hospitalized due to severe injuries.
It is believed that the vessel has sailed from Turkey in the hope to reach Europe, and now two Turkish nationals are accused of human trafficking and smuggling. After the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey more than two weeks ago, the Turkish route became more accessible for refugees and asylum seekers.
As the Italian coastguard, firefighters, police and Red Cross rescue workers continue the research and the investigations, the UN high commissioner for refugees Filippo Grandi, called for prompt actions from Bruxelles, urging European governments to “stop arguing” and “agree on just, effective, shared measures to avoid more tragedies”. The Italian President Sergio Mattarell expressed his sorrow, calling for a “strong commitment of the international community to wipe out the causes of migration flows; wars, persecution, terrorism, poverty, territories made inhospitable by climate change". It is equally crucial - he adds - that the European Union finally undertakes responsibility adopting policies to regulate the phenomenon of migration – especially illegal migration - to remove it from the hands of human traffickers.
