2022 Tartus migrant shipwreck

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2022 Tartus migrant shipwreck
ISS014-E-6696 - View of Syria.jpg
Tartus coastland, Syria
Date22 September 2022
LocationOff the coast of Tartus, Syria
Type Shipwreck
TargetMigrants from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine
DeathsAbout 150
Non-fatal injuries20

On 22 September, 2022, a ship carrying migrants escaping Lebanon sank off the coast of Tartus, Syria. The victims, intending to escape the Lebanese liquidity crisis, are estimated to number around 150 people, hailing from Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine. [1] [2] It is possibly one of the deadliest shipwrecks in the eastern Mediterranean in recent years. [3]

Contents

Incident

The ship departed on 20 September from Miniyeh, near Tripoli, on the northern coast of Lebanon, carrying around 170 people. Mostly Lebanese, Palestinians and Syrians trying to escape the poverty created by the Lebanese liquidity crisis. The intended destination of the ship was Italy. [1] [4] The boat sank off the coast of Tartus, about 50 km north of Tripoli, its starting point. [5] According to eyewitnesses the boat was carrying many more people than it was supposed to hold; bad weather and large waves also contributed to the disaster. Survivors had to swim for hours to reach rescue vessels. [4] [6] [7]

The Syrian Ministry of Transport said that most of the victims and survivors were found near Arwad island. [8] The Syrian coastguard and rescue workers, including a Russian search party, [6] was able to save 21 people, 30 people remain missing, 20 injured victims as well as bodies were taken to Al-Basel Hospital in Tartus. [1] [2] Rescue operations were halted overnight due to the weather conditions, including high waves. [8] UNICEF reported that at least 10 children were among the victims; [9] later the number was stated as 24. [10] Out of 34 women only 1 survived. [6] According to Lebanon’s transport minister, Ali Hamie, the survivors included 12 Syrians, 5 Lebanese and 3 Palestinians. [11]

UNHCR provided material support to survivors in Tarsus. [12] In the following days the Syrian Red Crescent transported the bodies of Lebanese and Palestinian victims to the Arida border crossing where they were received by the Lebanese Red Cross. [2] The boat was carrying 39 Palestinians, 35 from Nahr al-Bared refugee camp and 4 from Shatila refugee camp in Lebanon. [4] The majority of the victims were Syrians from Idlib, Aleppo and Latakia. [13]

The Lebanese Army arrested an individual believed to be related to the smuggling. [4] Funerals for the deceased were held in Tripoli. [14]

Background

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said the number of migrants attempting the dangerous journey from Lebanon to Europe more than doubled in 2022 for the second year in a row, while the primary destination for the smuggler boats had shifted from Cyprus to Italy. The main reason behind the increase is the worsening Lebanese economic crisis and a lack of jobs. The majority of people fleeing from Lebanon are Syrian refugees while Lebanese and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are in smaller numbers. [15] Additionally UNICEF reported that "years of political instability and economic crisis in Lebanon have pushed many children and families into poverty". [9] The economic situation in the north of Lebanon is more acute with common water and power cuts. [6] [10]

Reactions

See also

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References

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