The death of five people in the Aegean Sea off Turkey’s southwestern coast on Saturday after setting out on a rubber dinghy is yet another tragic reminder of the dangers that refugees and migrants face as they flee their homelands in search of a better life.
The incident occurred off the coast of Didim in the province of Aydin, according to the Turkish coastguard. The Turkish coastguard released a video showing refugees and migrants on board a grey inflatable dinghy waving as they are battered by rough seas. 11 of the 31 people on board were rescued, 5 drowned, and 5 made it to the Greek island of Farmakonisi.
This is not the first time a tragedy like this has occurred in the Aegean Sea. A woman and four children drowned in the same area in February after their inflatable boat capsized. Deaths in the Aegean are all too common, with refugees and migrants boarding makeshift boats even in stormy seas to reach Europe.
According to the International Organization for Migration, 2,269 people have drowned in the eastern Mediterranean since 2014. Many others have been rescued and transported to overcrowded camps where they lack adequate shelter, food, and medical care.
Europe has faced a desperate refugee and migrant crisis in recent years, as large numbers of people have fled conflicts and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and elsewhere. Some countries have opened their doors to refugees, while others have closed their borders.
