DESPERATE
Tots among 100 dead as migrant vessel capsizes
THE bodies of three young children are recovered from the sea after a boat carrying about 120 migrants capsized.
At least 100 migrants are feared dead in the disaster, which happened during a voyage to Europe from the coast near Tripoli, in Libya.
The Mirror has chosen to publish the devastating picture in the belief the world cannot simply look away.
Sixteen people were rescued, with survivors saying they heard an explosion, before the motor caught fire and the boat began taking on water.
The bodies were brought on shore by Libyan security at al-Hamidiya.
Survivor Amri Swileh, from Yemen, said: “When I saw the number of people on the boat, I refused to get on board, because we had been told that we would be 20 [passengers].” Showing his bruised arms, the 26-year-old said he was threatened by smugglers and forced on board.
He added: “I lost all of my Yemeni friends who were with me. All five of them are missing.”
Coastguard captain Salem alQadhi spoke of his shock, saying: “It was horrible to see.” Up to 15 women were on board, with the 16 rescued all young men from countries such as Gambia, Zambia and Sudan.
Fishermen spotted the vessel in difficulty and contacted the navy, which has rescued hundreds of migrants in recent days.
Libya is one of the main departure points for migrants trying to cross to Europe by sea, usually in flimsy inflatables provided by smugglers that often puncture or break down.
Some make it to international waters where they hope to be picked up but increasing numbers are intercepted by Libya’s EU-backed coastguard and returned to Libya.
In yesterday’s early hours, European leaders finished a marathon round of talks on an issue which threatens the very future of the EU – the migrant crisis.
After nine hours of stormy negotiations in Brussels a temporary deal was hammered out.
But even that may not be enough to end the tensions that are shaking the bloc’s foundations.
There are also implications for Brexit. Finding a solution to the crisis has absorbed so much of the EU’s attention it has left little space for dealing with our departure.
So here are the key questions on Europe’s great divide...
Q Why has the migrant crisis caused such divisions?
A Europe is still wrestling with the legacy of 2015 and 2016 when an estimated 2.3 million migrants made illegal crossings to reach the EU.
The majority came from wartorn Syria and Afghanistan and arrived in Greece and Italy from across the Mediterranean, or tried to enter through Eastern Europe.
There has also been an increase in the number of migrants from Somalia, Sudan, the Central African Republic and Eritrea.
In an act of humanity which caused great controversy, Chancellor Angela Merkel accepted one million refugees into Germany.
The number of migrants making the journeys fell to 204,000 in 2017 and there have been an estimated 47,000 crossings so far this year.
Q If the number is falling why is it still causing such controversy?
A The migration issue has stoked support for right-wing and populist parties. The majority party in Italy’s new ruling coalition is led by Matteo Salvini of the right-wing Northern League party.
He has said Italy will no longer be the EU’s “refugee camp” and has turned away two refugee ships trying to land on Italy’s shores.
Elsewhere, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has closed his country’s border to the east and branded migrants “poison” and “Muslim invaders”.
Q Why has it caused Angela Merkel such problems?
A The German Chancellor has been pushed into action by the Christian Social Union, her right- wing coalition partners who are based in Bavaria.
The CSU’s leader and her interior minister, Horst Seehofer, threatened to close Germany’s southern borders if a solution to the migrant crisis was not found.
Such a move would collapse the coalition and would probably see Mrs Merkel ejected from office.
And the issue is not just confined to Germany.
The 1995 Schengen Agreement which lifted border controls in all EU countries except the UK and Ireland is at risk. Austria has said that if Germany imposes border checks it will follow suit. Denmark and Sweden have put temporary controls in place.
A return to borders across Europe threatens the whole concept of the EU and the idea of free movement of people, goods and services.
Q What has been agreed at the EU summit?
A To ease pressure on Greece and Italy, the leaders agreed to share out refugees arriving on EU shores on a “voluntary basis”.
They have also vowed to tighten external border controls, create “controlled centres” inside the EU to process asylum requests, and to share responsibility for migrants rescued at sea.
There will be extra money for Turkey, Morocco and North African countries to help them prevent the migrant exodus.
Heads of state also agreed to review the Dublin Agreement which says migrants must be considered for asylum in the country where they arrive.
Q Will this latest agreement have any effect?
A This is a temporary deal and huge differences remain among the EU’s member states. Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic have all said that they will not accept any refugees.
There are no details on how the EU’s external borders will be strengthened, or how the controlled centres will operate, or where they will be based.
Mrs Merkel is holding emergency talks with Mr Seehofer tomorrow where she will learn whether the offer is enough to satisfy the CSU and so save the coalition – and her job.