Deadly Migration: Comparative Tales
It is safe to say that most of our students are aware that migration is dangerous. American news outlets routinely cover the dangers facing migrants in Mexican border cities. Some are even aware that migrants who travel via “la bestia” face unique threats–if you need a movie on this point, Which Way Home is particularly haunting. Others know about the dangers of falling from the U.S.-Mexico border wall, crossing the desert, and/or drowning in the Rio Grande. Fewer know about the crossing Darién Gap–this video news coverage from 2019 is still really good on that point.
I didn’t set out to list all the ways in which migrants can die on their journey to the United States. This Reuters article from 2022 tries to do that, if you’re interested.
Rather, a pair of news articles from BBC this week had me thinking about bringing to the classroom the idea of deadly migration as a comparative issue. Having students see that desperate people world over are willing to face shockingly high risks in a gamble to obtain a demonstrably better future. To that end, check out these articles from just this week:
- BBC coverage of the record number of migrants attempting to cross the Darién Gap: “At least 36 people are known to have died attempting the crossing last year, according to the International Organization of Migration. It says that the real figure is likely to be much higher as the remains of many victims are never recovered.” The piece includes a shorter video about the trek (about 2 min 30 sec). (The 2019 video I mentioned already is a bit longer at 11 mins but packs more emotional punch.)
- BBC coverage of the the dangerous route Pakistanis are taking from Libya to Europe. The article discusses the 300+ Pakistani migrants who died off the coast of Greece when their ship sank in mid-June. It includes maps (always a plus for the geographically challenged) and details about pricing: $8,725-10,470.
-KitJ