Last week, more than 300 Pakistanis were killed in the sinking of an overcrowded fishing trawler off the coast of Greece – it was one the deadliest shipwrecks. 750 immigrants had boarded the ship, each of them looking for new opportunities in Italy. However, these desperate immigrants would soon face disaster, the complete opposite of their wishes.
Nine Egyptian men are suspected of crewing the ship. The smugglers were said to have requested between $5,000 to $8,000 from the victims for the ride. Pakistanis who believe they lost relatives in the sinking are urging others not to send their loved ones abroad illegally. “It is better to skip lunch or dinner while living in Pakistan instead of taking the risk of going abroad with help from smugglers,” said Sawan Raza, who fears his brother, Ali Raza, is among the missing people.
Pakistan is in an economic crisis, causing many to be sent to refugee camps, where conditions are below standards. Problems such as erosion, overuse of agro-chemicals, deforestation, and heavy inflation as high as 45% have taken a plunge on the economy, causing most businesses to shut down. Desperate, Pakistanis like Thaer Khalid al-Rahal decided to board the dangerous boat ride.
Thair Khalid al-Rahal had been struggling with cancer, alongside his youngest son Khalid, who had leukemia. The family had been living in a Jordanian refugee camp for a decade, waiting for resettlement after fleeing Syria’s war. Doctors said that the United States could cover the treatment cost for Khalid’s cancer, but the agency’s funds diminished, and the child’s case worsened. When doctors said Khalid needed a bone-marrow transplant, his father decided that he needed to go to Europe to earn money to save his son.
Many who had been struggling with these problems didn’t have a choice but to accept the ride. They were helpless and looking for a way to live.
Unfortunately, the boat capsized. The Coast Guard’s initial report said that 17 passengers had drowned, noting that 100 had been saved. Relatives are still waiting on the Greek mainland under the baking sun for updates, keeping their phones plugged in so they wouldn’t miss a call.
This tragedy is sad but has also brought lots together. The Pakistanis help each other out. They are in contact with a Pakistani community leader in Greece, Javed Aslam, who’s helping Pakistani refugees. The team effort is already assisting many, and the community will continue working to improve the circumstances.
Nine Egyptian men are suspected of crewing the ship. The smugglers were said to have requested between $5,000 to $8,000 from the victims for the ride. Pakistanis who believe they lost relatives in the sinking are urging others not to send their loved ones abroad illegally. “It is better to skip lunch or dinner while living in Pakistan instead of taking the risk of going abroad with help from smugglers,” said Sawan Raza, who fears his brother, Ali Raza, is among the missing people.
Pakistan is in an economic crisis, causing many to be sent to refugee camps, where conditions are below standards. Problems such as erosion, overuse of agro-chemicals, deforestation, and heavy inflation as high as 45% have taken a plunge on the economy, causing most businesses to shut down. Desperate, Pakistanis like Thaer Khalid al-Rahal decided to board the dangerous boat ride.
Thair Khalid al-Rahal had been struggling with cancer, alongside his youngest son Khalid, who had leukemia. The family had been living in a Jordanian refugee camp for a decade, waiting for resettlement after fleeing Syria’s war. Doctors said that the United States could cover the treatment cost for Khalid’s cancer, but the agency’s funds diminished, and the child’s case worsened. When doctors said Khalid needed a bone-marrow transplant, his father decided that he needed to go to Europe to earn money to save his son.
Many who had been struggling with these problems didn’t have a choice but to accept the ride. They were helpless and looking for a way to live.
Unfortunately, the boat capsized. The Coast Guard’s initial report said that 17 passengers had drowned, noting that 100 had been saved. Relatives are still waiting on the Greek mainland under the baking sun for updates, keeping their phones plugged in so they wouldn’t miss a call.
This tragedy is sad but has also brought lots together. The Pakistanis help each other out. They are in contact with a Pakistani community leader in Greece, Javed Aslam, who’s helping Pakistani refugees. The team effort is already assisting many, and the community will continue working to improve the circumstances.