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I'm seeing a lot of discussion about camera crews filming migrants in the English Channel, so sharing some experiences of covering the Mediterranean refugee crisis from 2014-2017
At that time, huge numbers of people were drowning and the public mood was focused on that and Syria
At that time, huge numbers of people were drowning and the public mood was focused on that and Syria
The first major crossing to increase was the Central Mediterranean, mainly between Libya and Italy
The crossing was long and rescues were initially coordinated by the Italian government and EU, so everything was very 'official' at the beginning and media focused on arrivals
The crossing was long and rescues were initially coordinated by the Italian government and EU, so everything was very 'official' at the beginning and media focused on arrivals
We would get notice of when ships would be bringing in rescued asylum seekers at a port, and go there in time for their arrival and processing rather than attempting anything at sea
Here are some of my pics from Sicily in 2015
Here are some of my pics from Sicily in 2015
Then everything kicked off in the Aegean Sea, and the situation on the Greek islands got absolutely chaotic
There were a lot more camera crews filming at sea there in the early days because there was no organised rescue operation, and a lot of work was being done by volunteers
There were a lot more camera crews filming at sea there in the early days because there was no organised rescue operation, and a lot of work was being done by volunteers
There was a rumour that spread in Turkey that if a dinghy reached Greece intact it would be returned
It caused a lot of migrants to puncture them before reaching shore. Many couldn't judge depth or swim.I and many journos, volunteers public would wade in to take people to safety
It caused a lot of migrants to puncture them before reaching shore. Many couldn't judge depth or swim.I and many journos, volunteers public would wade in to take people to safety
Lesbos saw the highest number of arrivals and if you went to the beaches facing Turkey at dawn countless boats would appear
I remember trying to film one and having to dump the camera and run into the sea when it started sinking. These are pics from that morning
I remember trying to film one and having to dump the camera and run into the sea when it started sinking. These are pics from that morning
It was total chaos and everyone was trying to do the right thing, thousands were drowning and priority of life was the absolute number one priority
Few were thinking about what would happen once refugees reached land and the public then started to forget or turn against them
Few were thinking about what would happen once refugees reached land and the public then started to forget or turn against them
As public opinion changed government-funded search and rescue operations started to drop off and NGOs stepped into the breach
The only time I covered the refugee crisis at sea was on an MSF ship in 2016, when I was effectively crew and did what I was told during ops
The only time I covered the refugee crisis at sea was on an MSF ship in 2016, when I was effectively crew and did what I was told during ops
Crossing numbers fell after that and governments have since impounded and taken legal action against NGO ships
In the UK, the Mediterranean refugee crisis fell off the radar and the conversation about 'Calais camps' quickly divorced from the wider context
In the UK, the Mediterranean refugee crisis fell off the radar and the conversation about 'Calais camps' quickly divorced from the wider context
At the time, filming and photographing refugees felt like part of drawing attention to the crisis and forcing people to care
The photo of Alan Kurdi - a drowned child - changed policies across Europe
The context today - govt talk of 'illegal migration' - is very different
The photo of Alan Kurdi - a drowned child - changed policies across Europe
The context today - govt talk of 'illegal migration' - is very different
