Europe’s Deals with Dictators: The Tragic Consequences of Abandoning Humanitarian Obligations in the Mediterranean
23 June 2023
The recent Greek boat disaster, which resulted in the deaths of up to 500 refugees, is a tragic reminder that mass drownings have become a common occurrence in this part of the world, where people fleeing war, persecution, and poverty risk their lives in overcrowded and unsafe boats to seek safety and better lives in Europe.
The root causes of this crisis are complex and multi-faceted, but one thing is clear: Europe's deals with dictators have played a significant role in exacerbating the problem. To the south, you have autocratic leaders who prioritise their own interests over the well-being of their citizens. They spend vast sums on armaments, vanity projects, and personal enrichment, while their countries sink into poverty and chaos. They actively contribute to the refugee crisis by fuelling conflicts and instability in neighbouring regions and turning a blind eye to human rights abuses.
To the north, you have a Europe that has all but abandoned its moral obligations to protect refugees. Instead of providing safe and legal routes for asylum seekers, it has opted for a policy of deterrence and containment, outsourcing its border control to authoritarian regimes and paying them to keep refugees at bay. This approach has led to a significant drop in the number of arrivals in Europe, but it has also created a humanitarian disaster in the Mediterranean, where thousands of people have died over the past few years due to a lack of rescue and assistance.
The Greek boat disaster is a tragic example of how this policy of inhumanity has failed. The refugees who drowned in the Aegean Sea were seeking shelter from war and persecution, but they found only death and indifference. The Greek coastguard, which was supposed to rescue them, failed to act promptly, and the survivors reported that they had to wait for hours before help arrived. The boat itself had been stranded for days before it capsized, and the passengers were desperate for food, water, and medical attention. It is a horrifying and shameful testimony to the callousness of our times.
It is time for Europe to adopt a new strategy that prioritises human rights, dignity, and solidarity. This means providing safe and legal routes for asylum seekers, investing in humanitarian aid and development, and holding accountable those who violate international law and human rights.