More than 700 feared dead in recent Mediterranean crossings

[don-o]

More than 700 feared dead in recent Mediterranean crossings

By SARAH EL DEEB May. 29, 2016 4:14 PM EDT

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/b267906f51484482ab4490d68cc1e9cf/more-700-feared-dead-recent-mediterranean-crossings

POZZALLO, Sicily (AP) — Survivor accounts have pushed to more than 700 the number of migrants feared dead in Mediterranean Sea shipwrecks over three days in the past week, even as rescue ships saved thousands of others in daring operations.

The shipwrecks appear to account for the largest loss of life reported in the Mediterranean since April 2015, when a single ship sank with an estimated 800 people trapped inside. Humanitarian organizations say that many migrant boats sink without a trace, with the dead never found, and their fates only recounted by family members who report their failure to arrive in Europe.

"It really looks like that in the last period the situation is really worsening in the last week, if the news is confirmed," said Giovanna Di Benedetto, a Save the Children spokeswoman in Italy.

Warmer waters and calmer weather of late have only increased the migrants' attempts to reach Europe.

The largest number of missing and presumed dead was aboard a wooden fishing boat being towed by another smugglers' boat from the Libyan port of Sabratha that sank Thursday. Estimates by police and humanitarian organizations, based on survivor accounts, range from around 400 to about 550 missing in that sinking alone.

exc

[EC]

Of course, what they aren't telling you is that most of the time it's not overloading, or bad weather, or poor seamanship, or makeshift rafts. It's deliberate, calculated murder.

The largest number of missing and presumed dead was aboard a wooden fishing boat being towed by another smugglers' boat

Interesting. Why was it being towed, you may ask.

Because you can buy a hulk - rotted out and at the end of it's life - for about $5000. The fishing ports in Spain and Tunisia are full of the damned things. Each "passenger" pays about $2000 on average to be squeezed onboard. So, why actually risk being stopped by the Italian or Royal Navy? Get 30 miles or so out to sea, cut the tow line and blow the bottom out of the hulk. Sail away, waving "bye bye risk, thank you for the free $400k."

[TomSea]

May well be a bunch of Eritreans, Sub-Africans as well.  The story does mention an Eritrean.

Across the English channel, I think 7 were rescued trying to cross that. So, a smaller number.

Back to the original story, coming across that part of the Mediterranean does not seem to be the Syrians favorite passage.

[EC]

Nah. Israel won't let them in at all. Jordan lets them in as far as the camps or to a sponsor, but won't let them cross. Egypt won't let them through either. And if they do manage to sneak through - well, the Sinai makes Death Valley look like a tea garden.