The Human Cost of Anti-Migration Policies: A Deep Dive into the Refugee Crisis

 

"No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land" - Warsan Shire, Home

The Unseen Tragedy

Just last week, a trawler carrying around 750 refugees, including 400 Pakistanis, set off from Egypt towards Italy. Their hope was a better future. Three days into their journey, the engine failed, the boat capsized, and all but 79, including 12 Pakistanis, lost their lives off the coast of Greece. This is shaping up to be the deadliest shipwreck off the coast of Greece this year.

The Inhumane Policies

The "Stop the boats" policy of the Conservative government in the United Kingdom is a stark example of the harsh anti-migration policies. This policy aims to discourage migrants from arriving in the UK illegally by denying them certain basic protections. It's not just the UK; the Italian government has recently passed a law that prevents search-and-rescue ships from looking for migrant boats in distress.

The Human Stories

Shahida Raza, a single mother and professional hockey player from Pakistan, was one of the many victims of these policies. After losing her job, she decided to attempt the treacherous journey to Europe for the sake of her child’s future. Tragically, she didn't survive.

The Historical Perspective

This isn't a new phenomenon. In the aftermath of the two world wars, millions of people were forced to leave their homelands in search of new lives in foreign countries. This led to the creation of the 1951 Refugee convention, which aimed to protect refugees. However, the current policies seem to be in stark contrast to the spirit of this convention.

The Irony

The irony is that when the world was faced with a refugee crisis in the last century, governments joined hands to protect refugees. This time too, governments are passing laws — just of another variety. While the objective then was to protect and promote fundamental human rights, the objective now is to prevent them.

The Final Thought

As we ponder on these issues, let's remember the image that shook the world in 2015 - a lifeless three-year-old boy in a red T-shirt and blue shorts lying head down on a beach in Turkey. He was on a boat trying to flee his homeland after a civil war broke out. What choice did he have?

As Shire puts it: "No one leaves home, unless home is the mouth of a shark."