In recent years, the waters of the Mediterranean have become an unmarked grave for a myriad of migrants who drowned during their desperate attempt to reach Europe by boat. Urgent steps are needed to stop this humanitarian crisis. Addressing the root causes, including poverty and civil war, which force or prompt people to attempt the dangerous journey is crucial but time-intensive. In the short term, European governments need to reverse their current policies and either substantially increase their own Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts or facilitate the operations of NGOs engaged in saving people at sea.
Author: Carolin Liss
Dr Carolin Liss is a Senior Researcher at PRIFs Research Department Transnational Actors where she is working on maritime security, piracy, Southeast Asian politics, natural resources, and the privatization of security.
