The
response of the Pakistani government and the international community
The tragedy sparked outrage and grief in Pakistan, where authorities arrested 10 alleged human traffickers.
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| Rescuers transfer a migrant to an ambulance following a rescue operation after their boat capsized at open sea, in Kalamata, Greece, June 14, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS |
The news of the boat
tragedy shocked and saddened many people in Pakistan, especially in Kashmir -
also known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir - where most of the victims came from.
Families and friends held vigils and prayers for their loved ones who were
missing or dead. Some expressed anger and frustration at the government for
failing to provide them with adequate information or assistance.
The Pakistani
government condemned the incident as a "human tragedy" and expressed
its condolences to the bereaved families. It also announced that it had
arrested 10 suspected human traffickers who were allegedly involved in
facilitating the illegal migration of Pakistanis to Europe. Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate crackdown on human smuggling networks and
to provide legal and humanitarian support to the affected families. He also
urged the international community to address the root causes of irregular
migration and to enhance cooperation on combating human trafficking.
The international
community also expressed its solidarity and sympathy with the victims and their
families. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply
saddened" by the loss of lives and called for "urgent action" to
prevent such tragedies in the future. The EU High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said he was "appalled" by
the incident and reiterated the EU's commitment to work with its partners to
"save lives, fight smugglers, and protect human rights". The Greek
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said he was "shocked" by the
"horrific" accident and offered his condolences to the Pakistani
government and people.
The IOM and the UNHCR
also issued a joint statement, expressing their grief and concern over the
incident and calling for a "comprehensive response" to address the
situation of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean. They said they were
ready to support the Greek authorities in providing assistance and protection
to the survivors and in identifying and burying the dead. They also urged the
countries of origin, transit, and destination to work together to "enhance
safe and legal pathways, strengthen protection systems, and address the drivers
of forced displacement".
On June 14, 2023, a
boat carrying hundreds of migrants and refugees from various countries sank off
the coast of Greece, killing at least 78 people and leaving many more missing.
Among the victims were dozens of Pakistanis who had embarked on a perilous
journey to reach Europe in search of a better life. The tragedy sparked outrage
and grief in Pakistan, where authorities arrested 10 alleged human traffickers
and vowed to crack down on the illegal trade.
The boat that sank was
a rusty trawler that had departed from Turkey and was heading to Italy,
according to survivors. It was carrying about 750 people, according to
estimates by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN
Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The passengers were mostly from Afghanistan, Pakistan,
Syria, Iraq, Somalia, and Eritrea. They had paid thousands of dollars to
smugglers who promised them a safe passage to Europe.
The boat capsized in
the early hours of June 14, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) off the coast of
Greece's Peloponnese peninsula. The Greek coast guard and navy launched a
rescue operation, assisted by vessels from the European Union's border agency
Frontex and a helicopter from the US Navy. They managed to save 145 people, who
were taken to a migrant camp in Malakasa, near Athens. Some of the survivors
reported that they had been at sea for more than 10 days and that the boat had
run out of food and water.
The search for the
missing continued for several days, but the chances of finding more survivors
were slim. The Greek authorities said they had recovered 78 bodies so far, but
they expected the death toll to rise as more bodies surfaced or washed ashore.
The bodies were taken to a morgue in Athens, where they were being identified
with the help of DNA samples and documents provided by relatives and embassies.
The
background of the Pakistani migrants
Pakistan is one of the
main source countries of irregular migration to Europe, along with Afghanistan,
Syria, Iraq, and several African nations. According to IOM data, more than
32,000 Pakistanis arrived in Europe by sea in 2022, making up about 7 percent
of the total arrivals. Most of them used the Eastern Mediterranean route
through Turkey and Greece, which is considered less dangerous than the Central
Mediterranean route through Libya and Italy.
The reasons behind the
exodus of Pakistanis are complex and multifaceted. Pakistan is facing an
unprecedented economic and political crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19
pandemic, which has pushed millions of people into poverty and unemployment.
The country is also plagued by insecurity, violence, corruption, human rights
violations, and social discrimination. Many young Pakistanis see no future or
opportunities in their homeland and are willing to risk their lives for a
chance to start anew in Europe.
The majority of the
Pakistani migrants come from rural areas or small towns in Punjab and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa provinces, where there is a lack of education, health care,
infrastructure, and development. They are often lured by agents or brokers who
offer them fake visas or passports or arrange their travel through illegal
channels. They pay between $5,000 to $10,000 per person for the journey, which
usually involves crossing Iran by land or air, then taking a boat from Turkey
to Greece or Italy. Along the way, they face many dangers and hardships, such
as exploitation, abuse, detention, deportation, or death.
The
challenges and prospects of addressing the root causes of human smuggling and
irregular migration
The boat tragedy in
Greece was not an isolated incident, but a symptom of a larger and more complex
problem that affects millions of people around the world. Human smuggling and
irregular migration are driven by a combination of factors, such as poverty,
conflict, persecution, climate change, human rights violations, lack of
opportunities, and demand for cheap labor. These factors are often exacerbated
by restrictive migration policies, inadequate asylum systems, corruption,
criminal networks, and lack of cooperation among states.
Addressing these root
causes requires a holistic and long-term approach that involves multiple actors
and levels of governance. Some of the possible measures include:
Ø Improving
the socio-economic conditions and security situation in the countries of
origin, through development assistance, peacebuilding efforts, human rights
protection, good governance, and social inclusion.
Ø Enhancing
the legal and safe pathways for migration and asylum, through resettlement
programs, humanitarian visas, family reunification, labor mobility schemes, and
education opportunities.
Ø Strengthening
the protection systems and services for migrants and refugees in transit and
destination countries, through access to health care, education, shelter, legal
aid, integration support, and durable solutions.
Ø Combating
the criminal networks and individuals involved in human smuggling and
trafficking, through law enforcement, prosecution, sanctions, asset confiscation,
intelligence sharing, and victim protection.
Ø Promoting
dialogue and cooperation among countries of origin, transit, and destination on
migration governance, through bilateral or multilateral agreements, regional or
global platforms, joint initiatives, or common standards.
These measures are not
easy or quick to implement. They require political will, financial resources,
technical expertise, public support, and international solidarity. However,
they are necessary and urgent to prevent further loss of lives and dignity of migrants
and refugees who are seeking a better future for themselves and their families.
They are also essential to uphold the human rights and values that are shared
by all humanity.
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