Call by name – more than 51 000 victims of Fortress Europe

A silent drama has been taking place on the seas and at the borders of Europe for years and only occasionally makes it into the media. Over 51,000 children, women and men have died since 1993. Or should we ask whether they have been killed? Killed by the increasingly harsh policies of European countries which are preventing these people from entering Europe legally to apply for asylum.

They have to flee from life-threatening situations and put their lives at risk. They remain in undignified refugee camps without adequate care or the knowledge of whether, when and how they will continue their journey. We are appalled by this and demand safe escape routes! With various campaigns and a memorial, we are commemorating the victims and protesting publicly against the untenable situation.

Several hundred people drowned off the Greek coast on 13 June. The violent European isolationist policy is forcing people to choose ever longer and more dangerous routes. This must come to an end!