19 - 25 June

Royal Navy helps in mass rescue HMS Bulwark, a Royal Navy assault ship, has rescued more than 1,000 migrants from boats off the coast of Libya. In total, some 3,000 people were saved by naval vessels from across Europe earlier this month. The British ship took part in seven rescue missions alone. Among the migrants rescued were at least 10 pregnant women. The migrants were spotted drifting in boats, most of which were unsuitable for long journeys. Many of the rescued are fleeing poverty and the civil wars in Syria and Libya. The latest rescue mission takes the total number of people saved by HMS Bulwark to more than 2,700. The Royal Navy was sent by the government in order to help the European search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean. Irish, German and Belgian ships have also taken part in the rescue, but it is Italy and Greece who are temporarily homing the migrants. Greece and Italy’s shores are closest to Northern Africa where the migrants are coming from. These two countries are taking care of vulnerable migrants such as young children. In May, Italian authorities registered 3,300 migrants arriving in just one day. The Italian island of Sicily and the Greek island of Kos have both seen a great increase of migrants arriving since January 2015.

Migrants arriving in Southern Europe

More than 1,600 people have drowned so far this year trying to cross from Libya to southern Europe. The UN

News Story Original Version

schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org

E.U. MIGRANTS

ADDITIONAL FACTS AND FIGURES Italy

Greece

Mediterranean Sea

Libya

Syria

Map showing countries affected by migration

Eritrea

April 2015 “The equivalent of five passenger planes full of people drowned last week alone, and this is only the start of the summer. If they had been holiday makers instead of migrants, imagine the response.” Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, a human rights organisation Boats packed full of migrants have been leaving north Africa for several years, usually setting sail from Libya once the weather improves in the spring. The number of people willing to risk their lives in order to reach Europe in this way has increased dramatically in the last three years: 2015 is expected to be the deadliest year yet.

Where do the migrants come from? In 2014, around 170,000 migrants reached Italy. The vast majority were Syrians fleeing the civil war that began in their country four years ago. Second in number were migrants from Eritrea, a country run by a dictatorship and where torture is widespread. The rest of the migrants come from a number of countries including Afghanistan, Mali, Nigeria and Gambia.

Why do they come? Most of the migrants are fleeing war, political unrest or human rights abuses in their home countries. The majority are men who want to find work in order to send money

back to their families at home, but there are many women and children too. Europe is relatively close and is seen as a safe and stable refuge where work can be found. However these migrants are choosing a risky, illicit journey because they do not have the visas and other paperwork needed to enter European countries legally.

Why is the journey so dangerous? Once the migrants get to Libya, they pay traffickers to take them across the Mediterranean on boats. The vessels are often in dreadful condition and severely overloaded. Traffickers make a lot of money by charging desperate people expensive fees for the crossing. Their priority is making money, not human safety. On 19 April, about 800 people died when a boat capsized off the coast of Libya. Many of the passengers were locked below deck and had no chance of escaping.

E.U. MIGRANTS

ADDITIONAL FACTS AND FIGURES What can be done to solve this problem? There is no easy answer to this question and European leaders are still struggling to find a solution.

as Italy and Greece do not have to shoulder the burden alone? Do we owe it to the migrants to help, or is this not Europe’s problem?

Facts & figures According to the UN, over 100,000 migrants have reached Europe by crossing the Mediterranean already this year (54,000 in Italy, 48,000 in Greece, 91 on Malta and 920 in Spain). Italian Red Cross personnel prepare to give first aid to shipwrecked migrants as they arrive in the Italian port of Augusta in Sicily

Last year, 3,419 migrants died in the Mediterranean Sea. There are between 500,000 and 1 million people in Libya waiting to come to Europe.

Is the answer to stop migrants crossing in the first place? Leaders are particularly keen to target the human traffickers who are profiting from people’s misery. Can more be done to improve stability in the countries of origin, particularly in Libya where political chaos gives the traffickers freedom to operate?

Roughly 16 people have died every day trying to sail to Europe from Africa. in

The IOM estimates that 30,000 people could die the Mediterranean this year.

European leaders have put more money into search and rescue efforts at sea, but is it enough? Do we accept that the migrants will come and find a way to help them come safely? Can Europe agree a system to share the influx of people, so that the southern European countries such

Migrants protest

Amnesty International placed two hundred body bags next to the sea in Brighton to highlight the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean

Maltese soldiers carry a coffin during the funeral ceremony of 24 migrants who died after a fishing boat carrying migrants capsized off the Libyan coast

E.U. MIGRANTS

KEY TOPIC VOCABULARY CAN you match the correct definition to the key words in this news story? unfair or cruel treatment because of race, religion or political beliefs

migrant a person who leaves home to find work or better living conditions in another region or country

migrant trafficker a war fought by different groups of people in the same country

IOM

human rights

Amnesty international

immigration

visa

an organisation which campaigns to uphold human rights and fight injustice around the world.

A person who transports migrants illegally (in this case into international waters) for profit.

Government by a dictator (someone who has absolute and unrestrained power). The system is not democratic, therefore people can’t vote for change.

The movement of people into another country in order to settle and live there permanently.

dictatorship

Rights belonging to all human beings, for example: the right to life, the right to liberty, the right of equality, the right to a fair trial. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed in 1948 following the atrocities of the Second World War, was the first international declaration to state that every human has certain rights and freedoms, and it remains the most important.

illicit

The International Organisation on Migration. An organisation made up of 157 countries to manage and promote peaceful migration around the world.

civil war

An official mark made in a passport which shows the person has been given permission to enter a particular country. Visas allow nations to control who is entering the country.

E.U. MIGRANTS

KNOW THE FACTS

FIND the answers to these questions to make sure you know the facts behind the news story:

1) Why is the British Navy ship HMS Bulwark operating in the Mediterranean? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

2) Why did the migrants need rescuing? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

3) Where are the migrants coming from and where are they heading? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

4) Find three statistics which explain the scale of this migration problem. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

5) Why are the migrants willing to attempt this very risky journey? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

6) Why are the traffickers partly responsible for the tragic deaths? ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

E.U. MIGRANTS

POINTS OF VIEW

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Discuss these questions with other people to develop your ideas.

nts are willing 1) These migra ing on a to risk everyth ey to reach perilous journ does this tell Europe. What d ir situation an you about the ind? their state of m 2) Small island communities such as Kos, in Greece, are seei ng thousands of m igrants arrive in boats. Why do you think this a very difficult situ ation for these communities?

k this is a in h t u o y 3) Do should t Europe a h t m le prob y and ing mone be spend ry to resolve? to t resources

5) Many people think we can’t make ho mes for migra nts at a time when Britain is havin g to make deep cuts to public servic es. Do you agree?

in do more 4) Should Brita ople who are to welcome pe d terror and fleeing war an this country? want to work in

te quote from Ka 6) Look at the o Amnesty UK. D f o r e d a le , n e All e eaths would b you think the d ad if the people h y tl n re e iff d d treate ? holiday makers been European blic ot the same pu Why is there n outcry?

SHARE your thoughts on these questions with your partner school.

E.U. MIGRANTS

VOTE, COMMENT, ACT CAN you explore this news story even further?

1) THE HUMAN STORY The reasons why people are choosing to risk their lives and migrate to Europe in this way are complex. It is easy to only think about the numbers and forget that each one is an individual. Can you do some research to find out the personal stories of three people who have made the crossing across the Mediterranean? See if you can find out: Where they came from Why they came What the journey was like What they hope to do now

2) POLITICAL ACTION As the crisis in the Mediterranean continues this summer, the European Union and British Government will have to decide what action can be taken to help both the migrants and the countries where thousands are arriving.

Do we hope the problem goes away or do we do something to help? We elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent our views in the British Government. We also elect 73 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to represent our views in Europe. Who is your MP and who is your MEP? Can you find out what their opinions are on the issue of EU migrants? If you disagree with their opinions, or feel strongly about this issue, write each one a letter expressing your views. Remember, your elected leaders can’t represent your views unless they know what your views are.

3) CAMPAIGNING GROUPS Another way to campaign for change and to help people directly is by supporting the work of charitable organisations. Amnesty International has a petition on EU migration called ‘Don’t Let Them Drown’, which you could consider signing: www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/dont-let-them-drown-mediterranean The Red Cross and Save the Children have also been vocal about the need for action. Find out their opinions and see if you can support their work.

Share your ideas with your partner school.