On board an armed smugglers' boat with Iraqi and Syrian refugees

Summary

A French journalist joins smugglers and migrants on a perilous journey from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos, highlighting the desperation of Syrian and Iraqi refugees fleeing war. The group faces numerous challenges, including an unreliable boat, darkness, and engine failure, before being rescued by the Greek Coast Guard. The migrants' relief upon arrival in Lesbos is palpable, but their journey for a new home in northern Europe is far from over.

Takeaways

• 🚤 A French journalist joins a group of smugglers and migrants on a perilous boat journey along the Turkish coast.
• 🌊 The migrants are instructed to hide inside the boat to avoid detection, highlighting the clandestine nature of the operation.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families with children, including infants, are among the passengers, illustrating the vulnerable demographics undertaking this journey.
• 🔫 Smugglers display a gun to assert control, emphasizing the risky and potentially violent environment the migrants are subjected to.
• 🚫 The captain abandons the boat, leaving an inexperienced migrant to navigate, which underscores the lack of safety and professionalism.
• 🛳️ The boat is severely overcrowded with 60 people, many of whom are not wearing properly fitted lifejackets, indicating the dire conditions.
• 💶 The cost for this dangerous journey is exorbitant, with 2000 euros per adult and 1000 per child, showing the financial burden placed on migrants.
• 🚧 The boat's engine fails, leaving the passengers stranded and desperate in the dark, highlighting the life-threatening risks of the journey.
• 🆘 The migrants are saved by a Greek fishing boat after the journalist calls for help, demonstrating the critical role of external assistance.
• 🏝️ The migrants finally reach the Greek island of Lesbos after a harrowing journey, but their ordeal is not over as they still face an uncertain future.

Q & A

What was the journalist's role in the smuggling operation?

The French journalist managed to convince smugglers to let him embark on a dangerous trip along the Turkish coast to an unknown destination where they would pick up migrants.

Why were the migrants instructed to hide inside the boat?

The migrants were warned to hide inside the boat to avoid being spotted by anyone along the coast.

Who were the first to board the boat and why?

Families with children were allowed to be the first to step on the boat, likely due to concerns for their safety and vulnerability.

What was the condition of the lifejackets worn by the children?

The lifejackets worn by the terrified children were much too big for them, indicating a lack of proper equipment for the journey.

How old was the youngest passenger on the boat?

The youngest passenger on the boat was a baby barely two months old.

What was the role of the Syrian man known as 'EBrush' during the journey?

EBrush added excitement to the French journalist's experience, and was ordered by the smugglers to get off and help push the boat.

Why did the smugglers replace the captain with a migrant?

The smugglers replaced the captain with a migrant to take no more risks, as they had already received their payment and their job was considered done.

What was the destination the boat was heading to?

The boat was heading to the Greek island of Lesbos, approximately 10 kilometers away.

What was the cost for the migrants to be allowed on the boat?

The cost was 2000 euros per adult and 1000 euros per child to be allowed on the boat.

What happened when the boat's engine stopped working?

When the engine stopped, the migrants were in despair, and the French journalist used a satellite phone to call rescue forces, providing the boat's GPS coordinates.

How did the migrants finally get rescued?

A small Greek fishing boat approached after the journalist's call, and the Greek fisherman, despite struggling due to strong waves, managed to tow the migrants' boat and save the group.