A rescuer from the German humanitarian organization Sea-Watch that was patrolling the waters between Libya and Italy spotted a baby in the water on Friday after a wooden boat capsized. The baby was in the water “like a doll, arms outstretched,” the rescuer who was only identified as Martin said. “I took hold of the forearm of the baby and pulled the light body protectively into my arms at once, as if it were still alive.” The humanitarian organization distributed the photo on Monday in an effort to persuade European authorities to do more regarding the ever-growing migrant crisis.
The photo immediately brought to mind the tragic depiction of three-year-old Aylan, whose lifeless body on a Turkish beach last year became a symbol of the migrant crisis.
“In the wake of the disastrous events it becomes obvious to the organizations on the ground that the calls by EU politicians to avoid further death at sea sum up to nothing more than lip service,” Sea-Watch said in a statement. “If we do not want to see such pictures we have to stop producing them.”
The unidentified child died in one of the three big tragedies involving migrant boats last week that left more than 700 people dead, coinciding with an increasing number of people who are attempting the perilous crossing to Europe as the weather improves. Rescuers saved around 13,000 people from the sea last week.
