THE UN refugee agency urged the governments to focus more on saving foreigners, commonly known as ‘boatmen’, who come or wash ashore (with the hopes of asylum or a better life) instead of turning them away. News reports showed that according to UNHCR data, at least 3,84,000 people, have taken to the seas since the beginning of the year 2014 and the bulk of the arrivals occurred in Europe where more than 2,07,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean since the start of January. It is about three times more than the previous high of about 70,000 in 2011 during the Libyan Civil War.
In the case of Southeast Asia, an estimated 54,000 people have taken to the sea so far this year, most of them leaving Bangladesh or Myanmar and heading to Thailand or Malaysia. In the Caribbean, nearly 5,000 people took to boats between Jan 1 and Dec 1, hoping to flee poverty or in search of asylum, UNHCR said. Reports confirmed that many travel in rickety, seaworthy not. Others die or fall victim to human traffickers and there are records of 4,272 reported deaths this year. Many others leading life of ‘modern slaves’ as has been the case with Bangladeshis in Thailand.
Even though the member of refugees on boats have increased, some governments are more concerned about keeping people out than treating them as individuals who may be fleeing war or persecution. UNHCR data showed that besides the Mediterranean, there were at least three other major sea routes being used by migrants and asylum seekers. UN officials also highlighted the importance of having systems to deal with arrivals and distinguish the real refugees from the migrants. Considering the recent situation, it seems like that the governments are not keen on helping those in dire need survive. Humanism considerations seem to come last than accepting or helping the ill-fated people striving for a mere survival of life.
It is not mandatory that the governments need to give citizenship to the refugees or provide them with complete financial assistance until they live. The least the governments can do is to help them survive temporarily with essentials and help them move on to nations that are more willing to house them permanently. That way, at least these people will not face abject torture and harassment or die due to the harshness of the nature.
Evidently, thousands of Bangladeshis are becoming victims as ‘boat man’ refugees annually. Poverty and persecution are the prime reasons of such traffickings. Tragically, the government seems non-chalant about the problem shamelessly.
In the case of Southeast Asia, an estimated 54,000 people have taken to the sea so far this year, most of them leaving Bangladesh or Myanmar and heading to Thailand or Malaysia. In the Caribbean, nearly 5,000 people took to boats between Jan 1 and Dec 1, hoping to flee poverty or in search of asylum, UNHCR said. Reports confirmed that many travel in rickety, seaworthy not. Others die or fall victim to human traffickers and there are records of 4,272 reported deaths this year. Many others leading life of ‘modern slaves’ as has been the case with Bangladeshis in Thailand.
Even though the member of refugees on boats have increased, some governments are more concerned about keeping people out than treating them as individuals who may be fleeing war or persecution. UNHCR data showed that besides the Mediterranean, there were at least three other major sea routes being used by migrants and asylum seekers. UN officials also highlighted the importance of having systems to deal with arrivals and distinguish the real refugees from the migrants. Considering the recent situation, it seems like that the governments are not keen on helping those in dire need survive. Humanism considerations seem to come last than accepting or helping the ill-fated people striving for a mere survival of life.
It is not mandatory that the governments need to give citizenship to the refugees or provide them with complete financial assistance until they live. The least the governments can do is to help them survive temporarily with essentials and help them move on to nations that are more willing to house them permanently. That way, at least these people will not face abject torture and harassment or die due to the harshness of the nature.
Evidently, thousands of Bangladeshis are becoming victims as ‘boat man’ refugees annually. Poverty and persecution are the prime reasons of such traffickings. Tragically, the government seems non-chalant about the problem shamelessly.
