Libyan refugees left to die of thirst in the Mediterranean

[Hannah Bell]

"WHEN THE entire international community almost unanimously says that there is a potential humanitarian crisis about to take place, we can't simply stand by with empty words; we have to take some sort of action."

That was what Obama told reporters in late March, justifying the U.S. and NATO intervention in Libya.

But "stand by" is exactly what Western powers did earlier this month when dozens of African migrants, fleeing the Libyan capital of Tripoli for the Italian island of Lampedusa, were left to drift in the Mediterranean Sea for 16 days while their pleas for help were ignored.

In all, some 63 of the 72 passengers on board died from thirst and hunger--including women, young children and political refugees, according to an investigation in Britain's Guardian newspaper. "Every morning we would wake up and find more bodies, which we would leave for 24 hours and then throw overboard," said Abu Kurke, one of only nine survivors...


http://www.www.socialistworker.org/2011/05/18/death-in-the-mediterranean

[Hannah Bell]

1. freeeedoooommmmmmmm!

[dipsydoodle]

2. Socialist worker are mis-attributing the cause

other than the fact that in the absense of issues in Libya this wouldn't be occurring at least not in the same way. In this instance Ghadaffi has allowed/encouraged the migrants to leave, very few of whom if any are Libyans , given current circumstances.

The root of the problem lies in the home countries of the migrants. Its their own countries from which they have actually fled for whatever reason.

[Hannah Bell]

3. not sure what your point is.

[dipsydoodle]

5. I was pointing out

that the cause isn't as described in the article. You wouldn't have cause to have noticed that the usual route for migrants has been either via the Canary Islands or across the Straits of Gibraltar. Its somewhat akin to Haitians trying to get in to the US by boat.

[Hannah Bell]

6. the article says: "dozens of African migrants, fleeing the Libyan capital of Tripoli...

The boat left Tripoli on March 25, with passengers from Ethiopia, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana and other countries."

and discusses the migrant situation extensively.

that's why i don't get what you're talking about.

but even beyond that, the point is that they supposedly asked for help & didn't get any.

[cali]

9. And? So what. the point is that NATO and others KNEW about these people suffering and ignored

their plight.

[JVS]

4. We only save lives when it involves blowing people up. Helping people with water...

is for hippies.

[cali]

7. here's an AJ video about the refugees

http://news.google.com/news/search?aq=f&pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=Libyan+refugees+ship

[cali]

8. I also want to add that it's illegal to ignore a boat in distress

as as immoral