Beirut, Lebanon – 15 October 2023
“I closed my eyes and wished it was just a nightmare, that I would not be in this world anymore."
Amira*, a 51-year-old Syrian grandmother, thought she had found the solution for a better life for her and her family, far, far away from the socio-economic crisis in Lebanon. Amira was willing to pay any price, oblivious to the possible risks that often include irreversible consequences.
Like many families, Amira gave her life's savings to a smuggler to facilitate her illegal entry with her family to Cyprus, on board a death boat that was only supposed to accommodate 35 persons but ended up carrying 85 persons. The boat became very dangerous for them as it drifted more within the sea – they feared drowning, interception, arrest, and lost all means of communication. Fortunately, Amira and her family were rescued by the coast guards, which was not the case for many others.
"Whenever I look at the sea, I recall irritating scenes, when the boat abruptly stopped working in the middle of the sea for more than a day, the tension, the screams, cries, and noises became deafening… as if it happened yesterday… everyone was in panic and greedy for their survival,” said Amira, with tears in her eyes and a broken voice. “People were screaming for help, my daughter and my sister were trying to protect their newborns while sobbing, and me…I was totally lost, seeing people throwing themselves into the water, hoping to reach the shore safely, others clinging to the boat….and above all…consumed by guilt and regret for having to put their families in danger... these images still haunt me until today."
Irregular onward movements from Lebanon are on the rise as economic conditions deteriorate. In 2022, intercepted boats involved in irregular migration, as reported by the Lebanese National Authorities, carried around 1,350 passengers and more than 102 migrants lost their lives in three separate shipwreck tragedies (April 2022 ; September 2022 ; December 2022).
Amira fostered her resilience by engaging in the UNODC awareness-raising activity with Caritas on the risks associated with migrant smuggling (28 November 2022) for vulnerable Syrian refugees and their families in the Beqaa Governorate. Amira’s key messages, conveyed during the group discussion, were mirrored in the core storyline of the 10-minute short film uncovering the journey of smuggling by the sea "Like the seagulls". Attending awareness-raising sessions and sharing her story, with messages for people to avoid falling in such risks, is helping Amira rebuild herself to be able to put it behind her. It is a step to restore harmony in her life as well as that of her family.
There are endless similar stories of people from various countries who shared their unique survival stories, but one thing that remains consistent; the ending: Life is precious... Don’t risk it.
UNODC is the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air. UNODC is mandated to provide support to Governments and civil society to effectively identify, prevent and combat trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling by targeting organized criminal groups while, at the same time, protecting the rights of victims of trafficking in persons and smuggled migrants.
*Amira is a pseudonym used to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
