Back in 2015 I lost 9 of my family members in the sea. Their boat drowned, they had left Turkey illegally to Greece en route to Europe. After living on the Lebanese Syrian borders for years they were desperate for a better life. I fear such news 👇🏻
dailystar.com.lb/News/World/202…
Please read my family's story and spread awareness regarding this type of travel/illegal immigration, because the last thing I expected in 2015 was to get a call shortly after landing back in Beirut from Izmir, telling me that they drowned on the coast of Izmir. 👇🏻
The issue crept back into the headlines with news that on Oct. 12 nine of 12 members of the Lebanese Safwan family, traveling aboard a rubber boat from Turkey trying to reach Greece, had drowned when the boat was punctured and sank. al-monitor.com/pulse/original…
Cracked boats, greedy smugglers, they all make use of economic crisis and war and desperation to convince people that illegal immigration is the answer. Our Syrian friends had their share of experiences but so did some Lebanese. Please do spread awareness about this.
A smuggler hooked them up with a cracked wooden boat and second hand life vests & sent them off to the Aegean sea in Mid-October, that's freezing water at night. I spent hours with Greek costal guards on the phone trying to verify news & locate bodies.
In 2016 I went back to Izmir and spent sometime there trying to book myself "an illegal refugees trip to Europe" through the Aegean sea, since 3 of my family members survived, I had information about the smuggler, but I sadly could not locate him anywhere.
I was told months later that with all the money he made, he finally managed to become a refugee himself in Europe.
Many asked me why was I looking for him, I wanted to ask him if they looked hopeful and happy and excited when he sent them off to their death.
And I did write several features about the incident back when I used to work with @The_NewArab in 2015 👇🏻
One of the hardest stories I have ever written.
english.alaraby.co.uk/english/blog/2…
And one thing I will always remember, is the very last call I made to the Greek coastal guard unit in Mitilini Island/Lesbos, Greece.
One of the guards on shift told me: "I am physically and emotionally tired. I cannot continue to relay more bad news to families. I'm sorry."
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