On June 14th, 2023, a fishing boat, the Adriana, sank off the coast of Greece. However, this boat held far more than just a few fishermen. It is estimated that 750 people were aboard the vessel before its demise, one still yet to be solved. That being said, there are at least two things we know for sure. Hundreds have died, and hundreds are still missing. In its totality, though, this was not a well-documented voyage. In fact, a lack of documentation was the plan for the few who led this journey. According to a June 23rd report from CBS News, this disaster is the direct result of Libyan human traffickers: a group offering a one-way ticket to Italy for hundreds of struggling Pakistanis, Syrians, and Egyptians.
The trek would cost $8,000 per person. An analysis done by worldsalaries.com finds the average working Pakistani to make 983,100 Rupees each year: meaning it would take over two years of work for one to afford even one seat among those hoping to immigrate. Nonetheless, given Pakistan’s current situation economically, it is easy to sympathize with one willing to spend their family’s life savings in order to flee. Pakistan’s economy is quickly approaching default: a point at which import prices and inflation would both skyrocket. As of July 12th, the International Monetary Fund approved a 3 billion dollar bailout to prevent the country’s financial default. This is a great step forward for their economy in the short term, but many are worried about the potential consequences of Pakistan taking on more debt, a number already exceeding eleven figures.
This situation may be unique to Pakistan, but Syria and Egypt both have their own challenges leading to this desperate form of immigration. In its simplest form, these two nations have also faced intense economic crises in the past two years. However, the term “economic crisis” can dehumanize these problems in a way that causes us to easily forget there are tangible, relatable consequences. Food insecurity is a good start, an obvious place of struggle for all three of these nations, a struggle birthed by a changing climate and magnified by economic turmoil. Syria has also been grounds for terrorism and war, displacing over twelve million (half of the nation’s population) according to a 2022 article by The UN Refugee Agency. Only so many of these people are actually able to take refuge outside their country, and who wouldn’t hop on board to Europe in that situation?
This accident yields layers, and bringing the public eye to food insecurity, financial hardship, and immigration, is ultimately a good thing. However, the final layer and major problem is one which easily flies under our radar: human trafficking. In this case, the line is blurred between trafficking and immigration, as the passengers aboard this ship appear to have been completely intentional in fleeing their respective countries. Even so, we are yet to fully understand the intentions of those navigating the fishing vessel, especially those who organized the massive smuggling. Perhaps it was just monetary, but until we know exactly where they were headed, and what their plan was when they arrived, calling the situation illegal immigration is a bit of a euphemism. This is only exacerbated by the handling of the boat wreck by the Greek coast guard.
In a July 5th report by the Washington Post, a discussion is sparked in regard to the response made by the Greek coast guard. The coast guard maintains that more help to mitigate
the crash was not needed, essentially because those aboard the ship did not want or seek it. Well, that wouldn’t be surprising considering the few operating the Adriana would have done anything to avoid getting caught. The consequences of human trafficking in the United States, for example, are not light. Greece has an abundant population of trafficked immigrants, so they are no stranger to crime. The article continues by checking on the Greek coast guard’s accountability. They dismissed obvious clues pointing to the ship’s certain crash, like inconsistent speeds and a meandering path, while making a supposed attempt to scout the premises with a helicopter. The Adriana’s crash itself also has two sides to its story, with the coast guard claiming it to have capsized due to an imbalance in its weight, and those on board claiming the coast guard to have caused the accident via its attempt to tow the ship.
A native of India who has lived in the United States for the past thirty-five years spoke to Sampan (with the condition of anonymity) about how this tragedy speaks to larger issues of divisiveness and separation:
“I’m from a generation in my country that doesn’t hold grudges and enact blood feuds over battles from long before we were born. There is much more that connects us than separates us, and this tragedy for the Pakistanis should be a reminder that we were one people before August 1947. No matter if you’re Hindu or Muslim, this is a Human Rights issue of people searching for freedom and it cannot be ignored.”
What is most scary, is this is far from the first time and the last time something like this will occur. Adriana has captured everyone’s attention due to its size, but these are just 750 out of a whole industry of people being moved from place to place searching for an improved situation. The actions taken by the Greek coast guard make it further evident that it is easy to dismiss the lives and intentions of illegal immigrants who wish to seek asylum in first-world countries. The lack of documentation and responsibility by Libyan and Egyptian smugglers accentuates that. Illegal or not, 750 people is 750 people, and one can only hope this is the last human-trafficking-related tragedy it will take to bring the public eye to a worldwide problem.
