Why MH370, MH17 got media attention but deadliest Mediterranean migrant disaster didn’t

Last year, over 3000 migrants died trying to cross the Mediterranean. So far in 2015, an estimated 1,800 people have died at sea, with as many as 900 drowning last weekend after their boat sank on its way to Europe from Libya.

The sinking of migrant boat was termed to be the deadliest Mediterranean migrant disaster yet. Despite being the deadliest disaster it failed to gain media attention as was given during MH370 disappearance in March 2014 and MH17 which was shot down over the Ukarine with 298 people on board.

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It seems media worldwide has proved that when the poor die it almost always attracts less attention than when their wealthier counterparts meet the same fate.

The disappearance of MH370 and MH17 tragedy were widely covered by media globally.

The migrants who died off the Libyan coast were mainly Africans while MH370 and MH17 victims were mostly from Australia, New Zealand, China and other countries.

The number of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa has risen sharply in recent months. More than 35,000 people are thought to have crossed from Africa to Europe this year.

Migrants have been treated with immense cruelty by the world and most notably Europe. Many of them have been turned back from borders, and literally sent back to die. They have even been jailed for their crime of being poor, helpless and desperation.

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In the case of migrant crisis where is the humanity and the responsibility we would expect from nations that consider themselves enlightened and civilised?

After years of futile debate, it's time for all 28 European Union (EU) member states to agree on long-term strategy for handling migrants fleeing war and turmoil in Africa and the Middle East.

They should evolve a strategy to include agreements on how to increase avenues for legal migration from Africa and the Middle East and how to more equitably distribute the flow of migrants to member nations.

OneIndia News