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Date Published: 04/09/2024

Huge wave of migrants saved from unsafe small boats off the Mediterranean coast

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Migrants making the crossing are arriving in worse health with greater social vulnerability than ever

Huge wave of migrants saved from unsafe small boats off the Mediterranean coast

In the last few days, dozens of people coming to Spain from Africa in overcrowded and unsafe boats have been rescued at sea in the Mediterranean or intercepted after arriving on land.

The Mediterranean Sea is something of a deadly frontier for those seeking refuge from poverty, war and oppression, and the recent interception of six small boats off the coast of the Region of Murcia, carrying 77 desperate souls, is yet another stark reminder of the human cost of fortress Europe.

These 67 men, 9 minors, and one woman, all seeking safety and a better life, were granted recognition by the Red Cross before being processed by the National Police and transferred to the migrant holding centre in Cartagena.

Each number in the statistics released is a human being – someone’s child, sibling or parent. They are individuals driven to risk everything in rickety boats, their fates tied to the mercy of indifferent waves.

The six boats intercepted near Cartagena, Cabo de Palos and La Manga del Mar Menor are just a fraction of the ongoing crisis. For every boat that makes it to shore, countless others disappear without a trace, their passengers swallowed by the sea, their dreams lost forever.

In Alicante, three more boats arrived in just 24 hours, carrying 40 people, including three minors. Among them was a pregnant woman and two young children, ages four and six. Imagine the desperation that would drive a mother to embark on such a perilous journey, clutching her children as the sea threatens to engulf them all.

The Red Cross, as always, provided immediate care, undertaking heroic work to mitigate the worst of the poor and dangerous conditions suffered by the migrants.

Marta Marín of the Red Cross in Alicante noted an alarming trend, that migrants are arriving in worse health and greater social vulnerability than in previous years. Burns, cardiac issues and functional disabilities are now common among those rescued, alongside an increase in pregnant women and infants.

These are the visible wounds, but what about the invisible scars? The trauma of such a journey, the fear, the uncertainty – these cannot be bandaged or healed so easily. Europe’s policy of containment and deterrence is failing not just these individuals but also the very ideals of humanity and solidarity that it claims to uphold.

The fact that these boats continue to arrive, despite the dangers, speaks volumes about the conditions from which these people are fleeing. Instead of addressing the root causes – conflict, exploitation, climate change – Europe remains fixated on border security. But walls and patrols will not stop people who have nothing left to lose. They will only make the journey more perilous, the stakes higher.

We must ask ourselves: what kind of society are we building when our response to such profound human suffering is to criminalise and detain? These men, women, and children are not criminals; they are survivors. They are the victims of a global system that prioritises profit over people, borders over lives.

The immediate need is for humane treatment and care for those who arrive on our shores. But beyond that, we need a radical rethinking of our approach to migration. This means creating safe and legal pathways for those seeking asylum, investing in development and conflict resolution in migrants’ home countries, and addressing the climate crisis that is displacing millions.

The boats will keep coming. The question is not how to stop them, but how to respond in a way that respects the dignity and humanity of those on board. The Mediterranean should not be a graveyard – it should be a bridge to a better future, one where all people have the right to live in peace and security. Europe must do better, not just because it can, but because it must.