Nobody knows for sure how many people risk their lives every year just to reach the European shores. It is not clear how many people succeed in their mission and how many lose their lives in these attempts.
The dream of migrating to Europe is an old story. In the past, however, it was much harder and comparatively fewer people attempted to enter Europe illegally. During the 1950s and 1960s Europe’s doors were open to foreigners or migrants. People in West Germany still remember the celebration at the main train station in Bonn on the arrival of the millionth Turkish guest worker. Undoubtedly, Europe immensely benefited from the millions of those guest workers, who were subsequently naturalized and became European citizens. Migrants from across the world particularly from North African countries became part of the European social fabric. But with the passage of time, the situation has changed.
With the formation of the European Union, all the member countries became a single entity. If one lands in Paris, he can travel all across the continent almost without any hindrance. It is common knowledge that all EU countries use euro as their currency. Due to this interdependence, poor economic state of one country in the EU affects others. Currently, Europe is going through a rough patch and facing economic hardships. Member states are scrambling to bail out ailing economies. In such a situation, it is difficult to welcome illegal migrants reaching Europe in hopes of a better life and safer environment.
These days the number of people trying to move to Europe illegally is on the rise. Unfortunately, recent days have seen a hike in the number of countries facing instability. These not only include poor countries but erstwhile rich countries such as Libya and Iraq have also turned into cauldrons of chaos. And the problem Europe is faced with is snowballing into a genuine national crisis. Migrants are not coming in small numbers. They are coming by the shipload. The sad part is that each individual pays thousands of dollars just to be transported by organized smuggling gangs to the European shores from where they are left on their own.
Just last week, two large ships — one of which was originally used to transport livestock — were intercepted by the Italian Coast Guard. Hundreds of people including around 100 children were rescued from a drifting ship in rough weather. Most of the rescued were Syrians, a country where more than 200,000 people have been killed in the ongoing civil war and an equal number of people have been rendered homeless and have taken refuge in neighboring countries.
The wave of people trying to reach Europe may increase but it will certainly not halt. Europe now is facing a dilemma. Many politicians and many Europeans are asking to introduce stronger measures to stop or at least reduce the influx of migrants but the question is what to do when migrants are stopped. The debate has reached such a point that Pope Francis had to make an appeal to Europe to recognize the human dignity of immigrants. He said that Europe couldn’t allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery.
Last week hundreds of would-be refugees or migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean but thousands of others are known to have died in the process. Many of them paid as high as $10,000 just to board a non-sea worthy vessel. Human traffickers are feeding off people’s desperation. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for any country to stop a continuous wave of newcomers. Many countries in Europe are losing patience with this new trend. Countries can’t be on full alert for long periods just to investigate a wandering boat full of people, nor can it track a ship, which is steering aimlessly on the high seas with a criminal crew that abandons it in the dark night. What the smugglers are doing is a crime against humanity and we should find a way to bring them to justice.
