At Least 62 Migrants Die After Shipwreck off the Coast of Italy
Migrants in a small boat cross the Mediterranean Sea. (Wikimedia Commons)
At least 62 people died after a wooden boat carrying around 200 migrants wrecked off the southern coast of Italy on February 27. The migrants were attempting to reach Europe by making the dangerous sea voyage from Turkey to Italy.
The ship collided with rocks along Italy’s Calabrian coast and broke apart; debris washed up on the coast near the village of Steccato di Cutro. Twelve children and one infant were among the victims. Many of the ship’s passengers have not yet been accounted for, but at least 80 people survived the wreck. Customs police arrested one of the survivors on migrant trafficking charges.
Migrant traffickers often attempt to reach Italy from Libya or, in this case, from Turkey. The route to Italy is a longer, but more reliable alternative than the route to Greece. This is because Greece has allegedly pushed boats back to Turkey.
According to the United Nations, most of the migrants involved in the tragedy were from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia. Children and families made up a large portion of the group. Many migrants who make the trip from Turkey to Italy are fleeing from Afghanistan and are desperate to reach the European Union.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed the traffickers for this tragedy. Meloni’s government has taken a hard stance on migrant ships, promising to crack down and prevent departures to Italy. The Italian parliament approved new restrictions on NGOs that try to help migrants on February 19. The restrictions require NGOs engaged in search and rescue (SAR) operations to register everyone on board seeking international protection, and threaten strict fines for NGOs that do not comply.
The United Nations condemned the restrictions, worrying that they would hurt lifesaving work in the Mediterranean. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stressed the need for “safe, legal routes for migrants and refugees.” The UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration issued a joint statement expressing their condolences and calling on European countries to dedicate more resources to helping migrants.
The recent tragedy reflects a strong divide in Italy over migration policy. A right-wing coalition won a sweeping victory in recent elections, putting Meloni in power. The coalition has made migration a priority, and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has led efforts to prevent crossing into Italy. Opposition parties strongly criticize these policies on humanitarian grounds, and international organizations have to continue their work despite these political disputes. The latest tragedy is the continuation of a long, international migration crisis. Tens of thousands of migrants have died over the past decade and the recent tragedy shows that the migration crisis is not stopping.