Just this month, 750 migrants from Pakistan, Syria, Palestine, and Egypt sat on a small, blue fishing trawler to pursue a better life. Little did they know, but only 104 of the 750 migrants would survive one of the deadliest shipwrecks of this year.
The smugglers planned the whole arrangement. The migrants would start in Libya and finish in Italy. The smugglers promised a safe trip, and they charged a huge bill. All the migrants needed to do was get there. Unfortunately, the 750 passengers did not recognize this was a trap and decided, based on these false promises, that this was a rare opportunity.
Matloob Hussain, whose Greek residency renewal was declined, had over 20 family members to feed in Pakistan. The last time he went to Greece, he was so frightened of the water that he closed his eyes the whole time. The smugglers knew of migrants’ fears, like Hussain’s, and they promised a safe trip with a bigger, safer boat, and Mr. Hussain took it.
Adiil Hussain, Matloob’s brother, said: “Europe doesn’t understand.” He added that the fact that they leave isn’t because they want to, but because it is for the best of their family.
The bill cost thousands (some say about $4,500 per person), and families gave up everything to pay for it. Matloob’s family did not know how Matloob was able to reach the smugglers, but they did see him uncomfortably ask for the money.
Many families also did not know how to contact the smugglers. For instance, one family didn’t know anything about the trip to Europe until they found out that on their way to work. Then, they drove to Libya, but they would never come back.
When the tightly packed fishing boat arrived near the coast of Greece, coast guards noticed the ship was sinking, and a yacht was able to save 104 migrants. Among the survivors were 47 Syrians, 43 Egyptians, 12 Pakistanis, and 2 Palestinians.
Since 1994, over 4,082 migrants drowned on the Greek border, and many protests are now happening in support. The people who died will always be remembered and loved.
The smugglers planned the whole arrangement. The migrants would start in Libya and finish in Italy. The smugglers promised a safe trip, and they charged a huge bill. All the migrants needed to do was get there. Unfortunately, the 750 passengers did not recognize this was a trap and decided, based on these false promises, that this was a rare opportunity.
Matloob Hussain, whose Greek residency renewal was declined, had over 20 family members to feed in Pakistan. The last time he went to Greece, he was so frightened of the water that he closed his eyes the whole time. The smugglers knew of migrants’ fears, like Hussain’s, and they promised a safe trip with a bigger, safer boat, and Mr. Hussain took it.
Adiil Hussain, Matloob’s brother, said: “Europe doesn’t understand.” He added that the fact that they leave isn’t because they want to, but because it is for the best of their family.
The bill cost thousands (some say about $4,500 per person), and families gave up everything to pay for it. Matloob’s family did not know how Matloob was able to reach the smugglers, but they did see him uncomfortably ask for the money.
Many families also did not know how to contact the smugglers. For instance, one family didn’t know anything about the trip to Europe until they found out that on their way to work. Then, they drove to Libya, but they would never come back.
When the tightly packed fishing boat arrived near the coast of Greece, coast guards noticed the ship was sinking, and a yacht was able to save 104 migrants. Among the survivors were 47 Syrians, 43 Egyptians, 12 Pakistanis, and 2 Palestinians.
Since 1994, over 4,082 migrants drowned on the Greek border, and many protests are now happening in support. The people who died will always be remembered and loved.