Two shipwrecks occurred two weeks ago in the Aegean Sea, and bodies continue to wash ashore. The current count is 19 deaths, but the total number of deaths is impossible to know. We cannot determine the number of survivors either, as the nature of arriving to shore is still fraught with danger: escaping the Coast Guard and police while trying to find access to asylum on the island.
Every day, thousands of people cross the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better future, and unfortunately, their journey often comes to an end when they lose their lives to the sea.
Bodies are lost, and no one looks for them; they are just numbers that have a burial date and a case number, nothing more. All people have a right to life and death. All people deserve the dignity of a burial and a recognition of their life. No one should be lost in the seas, in unknown places without a name and identity. They should have a choice for a better life in safety, and without borders, shipwrecks, and wars.
We, as Aegean Migrant Solidarity, pray for all those who are lost, and for all those who are preparing to begin their journey to a better future as well. We pray that borders will cease to exist and that safer roads will be created for a better future.
