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On the Migrant Crisis, Europe Is at Sea Common-Sense Steps to Deal With the Migrant Crisis
(about 9 hours later)
THE Italian aircraft carrier Cavour floats in the choppy blue sea. From a helicopter hovering high above it, the ship looks like a toy left behind in a pond on a windy afternoon. But it’s no toy, and this is not a game.THE Italian aircraft carrier Cavour floats in the choppy blue sea. From a helicopter hovering high above it, the ship looks like a toy left behind in a pond on a windy afternoon. But it’s no toy, and this is not a game.
Built of 28,000 tons of steel, 800 feet long, rising 180 feet above the water line, with a fully equipped hospital and 550 crew members and officers from 14 different countries, the Cavour is the flagship of Eunavfor Med, the European Union’s mission to fight smugglers and stop human trafficking across the Mediterranean.Built of 28,000 tons of steel, 800 feet long, rising 180 feet above the water line, with a fully equipped hospital and 550 crew members and officers from 14 different countries, the Cavour is the flagship of Eunavfor Med, the European Union’s mission to fight smugglers and stop human trafficking across the Mediterranean.
You could call the carrier Europe’s forward operating base. Libya’s shore is just 40 miles south. Beyond is Africa, and its people are on the move. According to Europol, 800,000 migrants are waiting along the coast, ready to leave as the sea calms down in the summer. The smugglers can celebrate. Each passenger is worth thousands of dollars a year.You could call the carrier Europe’s forward operating base. Libya’s shore is just 40 miles south. Beyond is Africa, and its people are on the move. According to Europol, 800,000 migrants are waiting along the coast, ready to leave as the sea calms down in the summer. The smugglers can celebrate. Each passenger is worth thousands of dollars a year.
Our small helicopter lands on the Cavour’s deck. Uniformed personnel rush to escort us to the bridge. Rear Adm. Andrea Gueglio, the force commander, points out on the radar other ships involved in the multiple operations underway.Our small helicopter lands on the Cavour’s deck. Uniformed personnel rush to escort us to the bridge. Rear Adm. Andrea Gueglio, the force commander, points out on the radar other ships involved in the multiple operations underway.
There’s Eunavfor Med, also known as Operation Sophia, after a baby girl born to an African woman aboard a German frigate last year. There’s Operation Triton, led by Frontex, the European border agency, which operates closer to Italian waters. There’s Mare Sicuro — Safe Seas — which protects Italian interests in the area, like oil rigs and fishing boats. There is Italy’s coast guard (and Libya’s, in theory). There are humanitarian organizations, from Sea Watch to Doctors Without Borders, which operate their own boats.There’s Eunavfor Med, also known as Operation Sophia, after a baby girl born to an African woman aboard a German frigate last year. There’s Operation Triton, led by Frontex, the European border agency, which operates closer to Italian waters. There’s Mare Sicuro — Safe Seas — which protects Italian interests in the area, like oil rigs and fishing boats. There is Italy’s coast guard (and Libya’s, in theory). There are humanitarian organizations, from Sea Watch to Doctors Without Borders, which operate their own boats.
The migrant crisis is several years old now, and it shows no sign of abating. In the first five months of this year, 48,000 migrants were rescued in this part of the central Mediterranean, known as the Canale di Sicilia, half of them in May alone. All have been taken to Italy to be identified. Several hundred more have lost their lives at sea. On June 3, the bodies of 107 people, including five children, washed ashore on the Libyan coast. “It’s hard to be here,” says Lt. Ilde Covino, 30, a medical officer from Orsara di Puglia. “But it’s where I have to serve.”The migrant crisis is several years old now, and it shows no sign of abating. In the first five months of this year, 48,000 migrants were rescued in this part of the central Mediterranean, known as the Canale di Sicilia, half of them in May alone. All have been taken to Italy to be identified. Several hundred more have lost their lives at sea. On June 3, the bodies of 107 people, including five children, washed ashore on the Libyan coast. “It’s hard to be here,” says Lt. Ilde Covino, 30, a medical officer from Orsara di Puglia. “But it’s where I have to serve.”
“Mediterranean” means “amid the land,” but that doesn’t mean it’s small. There is plenty of room to get lost in. More than 200,000 people made the journey toward Europe this year; at least 2,500 drowned while attempting to cross. The Cavour’s officers interview those they rescue to find out how much they’ve paid to risk dying at sea. A passage in an overcrowded dinghy costs around $1,000 per person. In an old wooden boat, it’s $1,500. In a fishing vessel, $2,500 to $4,000. A single trip can make the smugglers more than $1 million.“Mediterranean” means “amid the land,” but that doesn’t mean it’s small. There is plenty of room to get lost in. More than 200,000 people made the journey toward Europe this year; at least 2,500 drowned while attempting to cross. The Cavour’s officers interview those they rescue to find out how much they’ve paid to risk dying at sea. A passage in an overcrowded dinghy costs around $1,000 per person. In an old wooden boat, it’s $1,500. In a fishing vessel, $2,500 to $4,000. A single trip can make the smugglers more than $1 million.
In the huge hangar below deck, on Sunday afternoon, I meet with 200 sailors. They’re proud of what they’re doing. But they ask, politely: Is Europe getting it?In the huge hangar below deck, on Sunday afternoon, I meet with 200 sailors. They’re proud of what they’re doing. But they ask, politely: Is Europe getting it?
Not really, I answer.Not really, I answer.
Of course, after an extremely dramatic event, public opinion wakes up and politicians react. Eunavfor Med was created after 800 people drowned in a single incident on April 15, 2015. This week the European Commission promised to put $9 million toward a program to send aid to sub-Saharan Africa in exchange for border-control efforts. The details need to be worked out, and it’s a long-term solution at best. But at least it’s a start.Of course, after an extremely dramatic event, public opinion wakes up and politicians react. Eunavfor Med was created after 800 people drowned in a single incident on April 15, 2015. This week the European Commission promised to put $9 million toward a program to send aid to sub-Saharan Africa in exchange for border-control efforts. The details need to be worked out, and it’s a long-term solution at best. But at least it’s a start.
Is there anything else the European Union could do right now? Maybe three things.Is there anything else the European Union could do right now? Maybe three things.
First, spread information. African migrants are generally not escaping war, but poverty. So they’re not entitled to refugee status, like Syrians. After processing, they’ll be sent back. Do they know that? Do they even grasp the dangers they face in Libya and at sea? Admiral Gueglio is convinced they have no idea.First, spread information. African migrants are generally not escaping war, but poverty. So they’re not entitled to refugee status, like Syrians. After processing, they’ll be sent back. Do they know that? Do they even grasp the dangers they face in Libya and at sea? Admiral Gueglio is convinced they have no idea.
Second, Europe could commit more forces. Eight months ago, Eunavfor Med had five frigates. Now it’s down to two, from Spain and Germany. After the terrorist attacks in Paris in November, the French took theirs elsewhere. The British have contributed a single oceanographic vessel, and don’t seem keen to advertise their presence here. There is a logistics ship from Germany and four small planes, from Portugal, France, Spain and Luxembourg. Along with the Cavour, that’s it.Second, Europe could commit more forces. Eight months ago, Eunavfor Med had five frigates. Now it’s down to two, from Spain and Germany. After the terrorist attacks in Paris in November, the French took theirs elsewhere. The British have contributed a single oceanographic vessel, and don’t seem keen to advertise their presence here. There is a logistics ship from Germany and four small planes, from Portugal, France, Spain and Luxembourg. Along with the Cavour, that’s it.
To be fair, they’re doing a great job. In the last 12 months, Eunavfor Med picked up 14,857 people from the sea and helped rescue 31,096 more. They arrested 71 smugglers and helped catch 155 more. They sank 129 boats — after emptying them, so they couldn’t be reused. It’s impressive. But it’s not enough. If Eunavfor Med is to go into so-called Phase 3 — going after the smugglers in Libya, before they put the migrants out to sea — it needs to raise its game: more ships, more personnel, more political support from member countries.To be fair, they’re doing a great job. In the last 12 months, Eunavfor Med picked up 14,857 people from the sea and helped rescue 31,096 more. They arrested 71 smugglers and helped catch 155 more. They sank 129 boats — after emptying them, so they couldn’t be reused. It’s impressive. But it’s not enough. If Eunavfor Med is to go into so-called Phase 3 — going after the smugglers in Libya, before they put the migrants out to sea — it needs to raise its game: more ships, more personnel, more political support from member countries.
Third, Europeans can learn from others. When asylum seekers try to reach Australia by boat, they are not held there while their claims are processed. Instead, they’re sent to an offshore processing center. Australia has two, on the island nation of Nauru and another on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Unpleasant? Yes, but a deterrent.Third, Europeans can learn from others. When asylum seekers try to reach Australia by boat, they are not held there while their claims are processed. Instead, they’re sent to an offshore processing center. Australia has two, on the island nation of Nauru and another on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Unpleasant? Yes, but a deterrent.
For the European Union it’s admittedly far less straightforward. Will lawless Libya help at all? What about Egypt? The Italians are considering the idea of “floating identification centers” on abandoned oil rigs. But are these the right places for desperate people who have crossed deserts, lived as slaves to collect money for the passage and braved the sea at night in overcrowded boats?For the European Union it’s admittedly far less straightforward. Will lawless Libya help at all? What about Egypt? The Italians are considering the idea of “floating identification centers” on abandoned oil rigs. But are these the right places for desperate people who have crossed deserts, lived as slaves to collect money for the passage and braved the sea at night in overcrowded boats?
These are common-sense steps and, most likely, none of them will be deployed. The European governments will never admit it, but they see this as chiefly an Italian problem. How wrong they are. A million Africans, maybe more, are knocking at the European Union’s door. Someone has got to answer, sooner or later.These are common-sense steps and, most likely, none of them will be deployed. The European governments will never admit it, but they see this as chiefly an Italian problem. How wrong they are. A million Africans, maybe more, are knocking at the European Union’s door. Someone has got to answer, sooner or later.