Since the beginning of 2017, 100,000 refugees have made their way to European mainland by crossing on boats, in search of a new, safe life. This is in addition to the 1 million that have reached Europe since 2015. Throughout the process, thousands have lost their lives at sea. Recent research by Verisk Maplecroft has highlighted that refugees are now becoming at a significant risk of modern slavery, as the risk of modern slavery has risen in nearly three quarters of the 28 member states of the European Union over the last year alone. The report has highlighted that there is a great risk of migrants being turned into slaves for various industries, including agriculture and construction.
Are aid agencies complicit in this false promise of a future?
The people being smuggled are vulnerable to exploitation on both sides of the sea: prior to reaching Europe, they are exploited in order to pay for their ‘ticket’ across the sea. Once they are in Europe, there is a clear threat for them to fall into the trap of modern slavery.Yara al-Wazir