UN Refugee Agency informs Refugees missing in the Mediterranean

As informed by the UN Refugee Agency  more than 3200 refugees died or went missing in the Mediterranean Sea in the year 2022 inclusive of children accompanied by mothers. Some refugees are Syrians coming from Lebanon or Turkey and attempting to cross over to Europe across the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. These women and children flee conflict zones and are desperately seeking a better life. Many a time such refugees run adrift on improvised boats in search of elusive dreams , educational opportunities and a  better life or at times escaping religious  or ethnic persecution . Invariably they end up at the mercy of unscrupulous smugglers in unseaworthy craft. Harrowing tales of dying from starvation and dehydration at sea are increasingly common.

Courtesy The Council of Europe

Search and Rescue (S&R)

Response to distress calls at sea has traditionally been the mariners code. The Master of a vessel is honor bound to respond to distress calls. The member states of the IMO adopted two amendments to maritime conventions for enhanced safety and security at sea which appear to exist on paper only or merely agendas at conferences. As a centralised approach the European Union has abdicated its responsibility to carry out S&R in the Mediterranean and some maritime countries are failing to respond to distress calls in their search and rescue vectors .UNCLOS also emphasises on assistance to seamen who are adrift or in distress.The complexity lies in the approach of diverse stakeholders and ensuring predictable disembarkment to shore.

Courtesy UNHCR

Commercial or Humanitarian approach

The commercial aspect of international shipping is now anti thesis to S&R as the potential loss of time translated into freight costs may outweigh S&R activity. This is despite distress signals transmitted by satellite and terrestrial communication techniques both to S&R authorities ashore and to ships in the immediate vicinity ensuring prompt rescue operations in minimum time .

 Perils at Sea 

According to international convention on refuges an “ asylum-seeker is a person seeking international protection and whose claim has not yet been finally decided. Not every asylum-seeker will ultimately be recognized as a refugee. Refugee status is declaratory.” Despite international human rights laws and maritime laws the plight of refugees is uncertain and fraught with dangerous consequences. Till such time the international maritime and human rights community gets its act together refugee mothers and their children remain at risk of their lives and dignity , hopelessly adrift at sea and at the mercy of pirates, storms and indifferent European agencies as inactivity is a convenient ruse to avoid S&R obligations enshrined in international conventions.

By Professor Dr Nazia Mumtaz