People. We are nomadic. We can’t always stay in one place for too long. We’ve been migrating since the beginning of time and constantly looking for that one perfect place to settle down. That one place to call home.
However, not everyone in the world has it this lucky. While people move around in order to attain a better life, maybe even to get away from their previous one of turmoil, some are left struggling desperately for survival.
Illegal immigration remains an issue, especially in areas around the Mediterranean, Europe, Middle East, South Asia, U.S-Mexican border, etc. Recently, seven people died trying to carry over immigrants right off of Libya’s coast, which happened to be the second fatal accident since Sunday. Consequently, European leaders are attempting to establish a firm policy on this refugee crisis.
According to the Italian coastguard, about 1,600 migrants have been rescued in the Mediterranean Sea and shifted to Italy. This influx included people from Africa and the Middle East and it has been recorded that over 2,500 migrants have died in the beginning of the year, mainly due to drowning. Moreover, it has been reported that 200 people were killed on Thursday as a ship sank off Zuwara, a town of Libya.
One if by land, two if by sea.
Not to mention, 71 bodies were found in a refrigeration truck in Austria. This was the largest number of deaths due to immigration on land in the past two years. In fact, according to the forensic experts of the Hungarian police, the refugees were thought to have originated from Syria and Afghanistan and might have possibly suffocated on their journey last week.
With the mounting death toll, criticism also rises of Europe’s distinct laws and how they attempt to handle the refugees and asylum seekers. Governments are either reluctant to take in the refugees and did not collaborate with the European Union’s propositions, or are solidifying and increasing their refugee policies and border security (potentially due to anti-immigration and nationalist ideals).
For instance, French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius accused eastern European states, notably Hungary, which is building a fence against migrants along its border, of a "scandalous" policy, stating that,"They are extremely harsh. Hungary is part of Europe, which has values and we do not respect those value by putting up fences," (Yahoo News) Fabius told Europe 1 radio.
Germany anticipates an eventual rise in asylum seekers.
In Italy, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the rising death toll would push EU states to confront the problem as he explains, "It will take months, but we will have a single European policy on asylum, not as many policies as there are (EU) countries," (Yahoo News).