United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is “horrified and heartbroken” by the latest deaths of refugees in Austria and at sea off the coast of Libya. These are kind words, but the time for words is long past; coordinated action on a regional and global front is required if we are to stem the completely unacceptable number of deaths. So far this year, more than 2,500 have lost their lives during their journeys, often in horrific circumstances. More than 2,500 human beings – each with their own individual story, each seeking nothing more than a better life for themselves and their loved ones. This huge death toll resembles that of a mini-war.
As is increasingly clear, a large majority of people undertaking such dangerous journeys to European shores are refugees who have the right to protection and asylum. Though there is definitely a proportion of economic migrants among them, the majority come from strife-torn places such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. It’s easy to pass judgement from the outside.
The fact is that the world has failed them; they are victims of situations over which they have no control and they deserve help. Ban has said he plans a “special meeting devoted to these global concerns” on September 30, during the annual General Assembly of world leaders at UN headquarters. For the refugees risking life and limb, this “special meeting” can’t come soon enough. And it better bring about some results.
