UK activists use ‘lifejacket graveyard’ to highlight plight of refugees

As world leaders gather in New York for the first UN Migration Summit, humanitarian organisations in London, UK, laid out 2,500 lifejackets in Parliament Square today to highlight the plight of refugees.

The “lifejacket graveyard” display includes 625 lifejackets that were used by children who made the dangerous journey to Europe. The display is aimed to “remind the leaders of the risks families have taken to reach safety,” organisers said in a statement.

Sanj Srikanthan, director of humanitarian policy and practice at International Rescue Committee, told the Anadolu Agency that the world cannot stand by as so many people are forced to become refugees.

“What we are trying to do with 2,500 lifejackets is just show snapshots of number who have fled violence, persecution and conflict to get to Europe, many of whom come to Europe through Turkey.”

Srikanthan said that Turkey has been an exceptional leader in hosting millions of refugees and that other should follow its example.

“[What] we are calling for this week, when UN world leaders meet, is for other countries to follow the example of Turkey and resettle the most venerable refugees and provide them safety,” he stated.

The UNHCR refugee agency, World Vision, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and International Rescue Committee are among the groups involved in the project.

Ahmed Al-Rashid, a 26-year-old refugee from Aleppo who came to London a year ago, crossed the sea to reach Europe for safety, he said: “At a certain point I had to put on one of these lifejackets… It was a very dangerous journey.”

“Over 65 million people are being forced out of their homes, and the majority are taking refuge in developing countries. Last year Europe had one million and made a big fuss about the refugee crisis. This crisis needs a global response,” Ahmed added.

According to UNHCR records, between January 2015 and August 2016, an estimated 6,940 people drowned or went missing while trying to reach Europe.