Pakistan refugees drowning in Mediterranean highlights a deeper humanitarian crisis

Nine people will be produced in court on allegations and suspicion of human trafficking in relation to the tragic drowning of the trawler near Greece, which killed many people. The incident reminds one of the chilling incident of Komagata Maru, a humanitarian crisis that haunts Canada's immigration policies till date. 

Pakistan government, who declared a day of mourning on Monday said that at least 300 residents of crisis-hit Asian country were on the rusty trawler. The chairman of of Pakistan’s Senate, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, disclosed the numbers in a statement Sunday, sending condolences to grieving families of the dead.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we pray that the departed souls find eternal peace,” CNN quoted Sanjrani. “This devastating incident underscores the urgent need to address and condemn the abhorrent act of illegal human trafficking.”

However, the Greek authorities are yet to confirm Pakistan’s death toll.

Pakistan has been in the grip of a severe economic crisis, the worst in decades, fuelled by a governmetn change, most devastating floods, and the Covid-19 pandemic induced lockdown. 

Growth has stalled and inflation has soared in the South Asian country of 220 million over the past year. The country has struggled to import essential food products, leading to deadly stampedes at distribution centers.

The number of Pakistanis traversing dangerous routes to Europe in search of a better future has reverberated through the nation. According to reports, about 750 men, women and children were on the packed boat when it capsized last week, the United Nations Migration Agency (IOM) said, killing hundreds and making the tragedy one of the worst in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.

Refugee crisis and European Union rules

The tragic incident, being dubbed as one of the worst incidents facing both continents also exposes the growing refugee crisis that confronts the European Union as people try to escape war, and poverty.

Greek authorities were criticised for not handling the crisis properly. This comes as European countries and Britain tighten their borders to curb illegal immigration. 

However, a bigger humanitarian crisis arises when people who fled their countries to save from getting persecuted, or to not succumb to poverty, are now being trafficked in the garb of what they feel will be a better life, a better future. 

The safety and value of human existence from crisis hit nation have dwindled wherein they are neither safe in their own country, nor are they valued as an immigrant. 

The tragic incident also comes at a time, when the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak led British Government, and minister Suella Braverman has instructed border security to increase surveillance for ‘illegal immigrants coming on boat through the English Channel’. 

Komagata Maru incident

The incident involved the Japanese steamship Komagata Maru, on which a group of people from British India attempted to immigrate to Canada in April 1914, but most were denied entry and forced to return to Budge Budge, Calcutta. There, the Indian Imperial Police attempted to arrest the group leaders. A riot ensued, and they were fired upon by the police, resulting in the deaths of 22 people.

The steamship Komagata Maru had sailed from British Hong Kong, and proceeded via Shanghai, China, and Yokohama, Japan, to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on 4 April 1914. 

The ship was carrying 376 passengers from Punjab province in British India. The passengers comprised 337 Sikhs, 27 Muslims and 12 Hindus, all Punjabis and British subjects. 

Of these 376 passengers, 24 were admitted to Canada, but the other 352 were not allowed to disembark in Canada, and the ship was forced to leave Canadian waters.