Syrian Father throws baby’s body into sea while trying to reach Europe

One video of a Syrian father throwing his infant child’s body into the sea circulated the internet, sparking outrage from social media users and human right activist throughout the world, reports Arabic Post.

The small boat captured in the video was headed towards Italy, carrying a group of asylum seekers who gave up everything hoping for a better life in Europe for them and their families.

Instead, a parent is seen shrouding his baby with a pile of clothes, then throwing its now lifeless

body to float on the merciless Mediterranean waters, surrounded by bereaved cries and prayers from his fellow passengers.

This particular boat carried 32 migrants who hoped to ride the waves from the Turkish city of Antalya to a port in Sicily, Italy, on August 27th. But all hope quickly vanished when the boat’s tank emptied, and the migrants found themselves struggling with no food or water.

Survival was on the forefront of their minds. Eventually, they started mixing the salty waters with toothpaste to eat.

Six of them, including three children, could not bear the salty water, and later died of dehydration. According to Reuters, passengers kept the bodies of those who passed on deck, hoping to bury them properly when they reach land.

However, the journey was too long, the air too damp, and the dead were decomposing. After several grueling days at sea, the passengers were forced to surrender the bodies -adult and children alike- to the water.

Afterwards, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees confirmed that indeed 6 Syrian migrants died of starvation and thirst while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea by a boat.
The UNHCR also clarified that more than 30 people were on the boat, noting that a large number of survivors are left in high-risk health conditions.

“Six migrants, including children, women and teenagers lost their lives at sea. They died of thirst, hunger and severe burns,” tweeted Chiara Cardoletti, UNHCR’s representative to Italy.

Adding: “This is unacceptable. Strengthening rescue at sea is the only way to prevent these tragedies.”

Over recent days, ships belonging to humanitarian NGOs have rescued hundreds of migrants in the waters of the Mediterranean.

Non-governmental organization, Sea-Watch, reported that there are 428 rescued individuals aboard one of its ships (Sea-Watch 3) looking for a port to anchor, declaring a state of emergency after the rapid deterioration of health conditions amongst the rescued.

According to Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency), more than 42,500 migrants took the Central Mediterranean route between January and July 2022, an increase of 44% compared to the first seven months of 2021.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR claims that more than 1,200 people have died or gone missing so far this year while trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.