Testimony

Shipwreck off Lebanon: "Here, what future do we have, me and my children?"

Rescue teams search for missing people after the shipwreck off Tripoli on April 24, 2022. AFP - FATHI AL-MASRI

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Following the sinking of a migrant boat off the Lebanese coast, with around sixty people on board, the Lebanese army continues to search for the bodies of the missing.

This Sunday, riots broke out in the big city in northern Lebanon against the political class and the army, accused of having done nothing to avoid the tragedy.

For nearly 3 years, Lebanon has been sinking into a deep economic crisis which is pushing more and more inhabitants to take to the sea at the risk of their lives.

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With our correspondent in Tripoli

,

Noé Pignède

Sitting on a plastic chair surrounded by his loved ones, Bilal Dandashi struggles to hold back his tears.

With his family, he tried this weekend to set sail for Italy, with the help of smugglers, whom he had paid $8,000, but their boat sank.

“ 

I wanted to bring my children to a safe country, so that they could have a better future.

So we set sail… The Lebanese Coast Guard spotted us: one of their boats tried to stop us, but we didn't listen to them.

So they rushed at our boat.

We told them, "

Let us go. We have children! We die if we stay in this country. There isn't even a hospital anymore. You too are hungry and you want to leave the country. Let us go

! " 

» 

This castaway accuses the soldiers of having let their boat sink to prevent them from reaching Europe.

Several members of his family died.

His wife and two of his children are still missing.

The body of his sister-in-law was found on the beach washed up by the sea. Distraught, this father finds himself alone with two young children.

“

 I wanted to leave because this country has nothing more to offer us.

But now that I've lost my family, I don't know what to do.

Here, what future do we have, me and my children?

 »

According to the United Nations, more and more poor Lebanese are trying to reach Europe by sea. A phenomenon that is likely to increase further in the coming months, as the country sinks into an endless crisis.

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  • International Migrations

  • Lebanon