Article Reflection No. 58 (7/9/2023)

(Axcent)

6/9/2023

Article: Everyone Knew the Migrant Ship Was Doomed. No One Helped.

In the article “Everyone Knew the Migrant Ship Was Doomed. No One Helped.”, Karam Shoumali and Matina Stevis-Gridneff details the last hours of Adriana, a boat that sank early morning on June 14, killing hundreds of passengers. With maps that detail the ship’s route based on tracking data and satellite imagery, this report thoroughly exhibits the conditions that led to the capsize, and analyzes whether the Greek Coast Guard holds accountability for how this event unfolded. The Adriana, destined for Italy, was filled with migrants, and the divisions within the vehicle—from the deck to lower floors—represented some sort of a caste system, with Egyptians, Palestinians, and Syrians towards the top, women and children in the middle, and, at the very bottom, Pakistanis. According to Shoumali and Stevis-Gridneff, Adriana’s captain was driven to reach Italy, because migrant transportation involves receiving the money once passengers have safely reached their destination. Greek authorities have emphasized on the ship’s movement towards Italy, using this to justify for their lacking assistance, but MarineTraffic data “show that the Adriana was adrift for its final seven hours or so”, the authors wrote (Shoumali and Stevis-Gridneff par. 46).

The fact that many lives could have been saved is so regrettable and upsetting. Let’s forget about the political aspects of migration for a second, and see these adversities through a humanitarian lens.