Saturday, July 29, 2006

ANOTHER BOAT, ANOTHER TRAGEDY

Yet another boatload of clandestini - all in a pitiful state - was intercepted off Lampedusa last night. 27 people had set out from Libya 20 days ago: during the nightmare journey 13 died and their bodies had to be thrown into the sea by the survivors, who were all found to be suffering from dehydration and malnutrition. 2 are in a coma in a Palermo hospital whilst 7 others are in a very serious condition. What, one wonders,can be done to stem the flow? Are these poor people really apprised of the dangers before they take such a risk? One cannot imagine the despair that would lead them to do so if they are. Only an end to poverty in Africa can solve the problem, it seems to me, and that looks increasingly unlikely with the attention of those with the power to do something engaged elsewhere.

Reuters is reporting the story but I can't find it on the BBC or Sky sites.

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