As Melbourne’s Eritrean community planned a Saturday memorial service for up to 360 asylum seekers who died when their boat sunk near Lampedusa on October 3, another 34 asylum seekers drowned near the Italian island on Friday.
Chairman of the African Think Tank Berhan Ahmed said the local African community was experiencing grief and horror.
“This is only the latest human tragedy in the Mediterranean, part of a pattern of boat sinkings that are occurring not only in Australia but in the Mediterranean, in the Red Sea, off the west coast of Canada, in many places around the world,” he said.
“Desperate people, fighting for their safety and their lives, cram in hundreds upon boats intended to take at most 10 or 20 crew.”
Dr Ahmed predicted similar tragedies would unfold if Australia carried out a policy to “turn back boats”. “By indifference and harshness, we stand to blacken our name among nations. Let us act to ensure that no such tragedies occur from our policies.
“The international communities have to act on finding solutions for such desperate people.”
On September 27, a boat carrying about 100 capsized on its way to Australia’s Christmas Island. More than 30 bodies were recovered and dozens more are missing presumed dead
