Syrians escaping the conflict in their country are embarking on a perilous journey to Europe, facilitated by people smugglers. Initiating contact via WhatsApp, the smugglers organize travel from Syria to Libya and onward across the Mediterranean, the world’s deadliest migration route. The journey includes false promises of accommodations and safety, and refugees often face overcrowded conditions, extortion, violence, and humiliation. The complex travel routes include various airlines and overland paths, and the Libyan situation’s chaos enables smugglers to operate without much hindrance.
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Key Points:Â
- Smuggling Operation: People smugglers in Syria facilitate the migration of Syrians to Europe via Libya, using phone communication to plan and collect payment. The cost per person often exceeds $6,000, and the journey is riddled with abuse and deceit.
- Libya’s Role: Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has become a notorious hub for human rights abuses and migration to Europe. Its political division and lack of regulation make it a key point in the journey to Europe, with smugglers utilizing connections in security and militia camps to organize travel.
- Perilous Journey: The route across the central Mediterranean has claimed more than 1,800 lives this year alone. Refugees endure overcrowded and disease-ridden conditions, subjected to violence and extortion, often culminating in life-threatening boat trips.
- Deceptive Practices: Smugglers often mislead refugees with promises of safe travel, decent accommodations, and assistance, only to leave them in squalid conditions and at the mercy of armed guards.
- International Complications: The smuggling route involves complex paths across the Middle East, sometimes utilizing airlines blacklisted by the European Union. The intertwining of migration with the geopolitical situation in Libya, Syria, and Europe adds further layers of complexity and challenge to the crisis.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/8/16/syria-to-libya-then-europe-how-people-smugglers-operateÂ
