評論
打印
Migrants in the Mediterranean
地中海移民
The numbers nightmare
令人發指的人數
Ever more people are drowning while trying to get to Europe
越來越多的人在前往歐洲的道路上溺水身亡
IN THE sea separating north Africa from the European Union, the phrase “calm waters” now has an ominous ring. After the weather improved this week, almost 8,500 illegal migrants were rescued. Some brought tales of horror: of chaos in Libya, of mistreatment and torture at the hands of people-smugglers, and of deaths at sea. As many as 400 died on April 12th when their boat capsized, apparently because they rushed to one side when rescuers appeared.
在歐洲和非洲的海峽之間，“平靜的水面”這個詞語現在可不是什么好預兆。本周天氣轉好之后，差不多有8500民非法移民獲得了救援。他們中的一些身上有著駭人聽聞的遭遇：有的來自混亂的利比亞；有的遭受走私者非人折磨；還有一些直接在海洋上失去了生命。4月12號，因為一艘船只傾覆，約400民非法移民者喪生，因為當救援船出現時，他們同時涌向了船的一側。
Migrants sometimes lie to get sympathy. But the Italian authorities are taking seriously a claim that a trafficker threw to sharks the body of a dead (or perhaps unconscious) migrant, apparently overcome by fumes.
這些非法移民有時候會通過撒謊來博得同情。但是意大利當局發布了一份嚴肅的聲明說有一些走私者將死者（或者說僅僅是喪失意識）的軀體扔給鯊魚，不過這明顯是一種掩人耳目的做法。
The latest wave of arrivals confirms that the EU faces a challenge of unprecedented proportions. According to the International Organisation for Migration, more than 15,000 people have reached Italy since the start of the year. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees says not enough is being done to save lives.
最新一波的移民潮肯定會讓歐洲面臨一次前所未有的挑戰。根據聯合國移民署的統計，從年初開始已經有超過15000人抵達了意大利。但是聯合國難民署的高級專員表示為了拯救生命，我們做的還遠遠不夠。
On humanitarian grounds alone, the EU's present response, Operation Triton, is inadequate. The remit of its vessels is to patrol within 30 miles (48 km) off the Italian coast. Triton replaced the bigger Operation Mare Nostrum, which Italy suspended at the end of 2014 partly because other EU countries would not share the burden of search and rescue. Italy's partners say they have migration and asylum problems of their own. Anyway, many migrants who come ashore in Italy disappear north before being identified—with the connivance of the Italian authorities. Both numbers and drownings seem likely to rise.
從人道主義的角度上來說，歐盟對此現象的反應—Triton組織的行動并不夠。該組織在意大利30海里（48千米的）海岸線上巡邏。Triton代替了之前一個更大的組織——Mare Nostrum，該組織因為歐盟其他成員國不愿負擔搜索和救援的責任而被擱置。意大利的盟友們則表示，他們有各自的移民和救助問題。無論如何，因為意大利當局的默認，之前那些通過意大利漸漸消失的北部海岸線入境的非法移民都獲得了正式身份。而現在，無論是移民人數，還是溺亡的人數看上去都會繼續增加。譯者：曾擎禹 校對：毛慧
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