The Perilous Journey: Refugee Survival and Exploitation
The Sea Crossing and Arrival in Greece
The Boatman Had Good Control of the Boat. Strong winds played with the tiny boat, and the crowd of people nearly caused it to turn over several times. However, the boatman had a strong hand, and before long, he was near the shore of Greece, shouting at the passengers to get out.
The Border Crisis and Rejection
The Country on the Border Didn’t Want the Refugees to Come In. There were soldiers with guns and dogs. Furious people banged on the metal fence which had been built to block their path, but there was no way through.
Tariq’s Emotional Burden: Worrying for Family
Worrying about his mother and Salah affected Tariq badly. For a moment, Tariq felt free and happy, but then he asked himself: “How could I be happy until I know that my mother and my brother are safe?”
Lack of Sympathy from Border Soldiers
The soldiers weren’t sympathetic to Hassan and Tariq. “I’ve lost my family,” said Hassan. “Maybe they are at the camp,” said the soldier with no emotion in his voice. “You can’t stay here.”
Fear and Tension at the Border Fence
The soldiers at the border were afraid of the refugees. The refugees ran to the border, shouting and screaming. The soldiers tried to stay calm, but they looked worried.
Was Pulling Back the Fence Justified?
The fence closes the path, and removing it facilitates passage for immigrants, causing them less damage. However, if it is set up, it is usually for some reason. I think that nobody should be illegal in this world.
Did Soldiers Intend to Help Refugees?
No, they were tricked into taking them to a place with worse conditions (the permanent camp) and leaving them to their fate.
Treatment of Refugees: Why the Cruelty?
They were immigrants and were treated like animals because the authorities did not want them in those places.
Life in the Camps: Border vs. Permanent
List three ways in which life in the border camp was better than life in the permanent camp:
- Basic Amenities: In the border camp, they had food, water, and showers in acceptable conditions. In the permanent camp, they had nothing. For example, there was a large pool of water, but if they drank it, they could get sick. Also, there was no running water and no electricity.
- Shelter: They slept in a field of tents put up by the refugees because they were fine. In the permanent camp, they were abandoned in an open warehouse with concrete floors and no windows.
- Sanitation: The smell in the permanent camp was unbearable.
Why Was the Permanent Camp Smell Terrible?
Because there were only eight toilets for over 1,000 people to use.
Hassan’s Positive Attitude vs. Despair
What was the difference between Hassan’s attitude to being in the camp and that of the other man? Hassan had a positive attitude because he knew that there was always an option, while the other man thought there was no choice and had a negative attitude.
Planning the Next Stage of the Journey
How did Hassan and the other men plan their journey to the border? They looked at maps and discovered that this camp was a day’s walk from the border.
The Heartbreaking Silence of Babies
The crying of babies was heartbreaking, but it was worse when they stopped. What is the author inferring? When they are silent, they may be dead or suffocated, while when they cry, we are sure they live.
Fear and Uncertainty in the Smuggler’s Lorry
Why were the refugees afraid when the lorry stopped? Perhaps the police had stopped the driver and they would all be arrested, or maybe the smugglers had abandoned them, leaving them to suffocate in the locked lorry.
What caused the refugees to believe that the smugglers were not going to let them die? The fact that the lorry stopped in the middle of nowhere after a long time stuck inside.
The Smugglers’ Threat and Deception
Why did Rash threaten to kill Salah? Rash and the mother had made a deal that when they arrived at the destination, the husband would pay him. As there was no husband waiting, he threatened Salah to get his money.
Why did the white-haired man lie to Rash about being Rima’s husband? His daughter was on that lorry, but she died on the road; she suffocated on the terrible journey. He felt that at least the money was used for something.
Abandonment at Sea and Rescue
Why did the crew leave the ship in the middle of the sea? Because the boat was sinking. The crew saved themselves with the money paid by the refugees, ensuring the refugees never reached land in that boat.
How were Rima and Salah saved? They held on tightly to a metal barrier on the boat. Then, lifeboats appeared, and the coastguard helped them.
Stopping Refugee Exploitation
Some people use refugee situations to make a profit. What do you think should be done to stop this from happening?
- First, regularize immigration.
- Secondly, punish those who follow this method because the lives of people cannot be purchased.