Body Of Small Refugee Child Is Washed Up On Turkish Beach

The body of a tiny refugee washed up on a Turkish beach on Wednesday is a tragedy that symbolises the desperation of thousands.

The refugee child drowned in an apparent attempt to flee the war currently ravaging his country.

Carried by a Turkish rescue worker, the young child from Syria is one of 11 who lost their lives when two boats capsized Wednesday.

The Mail Online reports:

He is perhaps the most pitiful of the victims of the deepening migrant crisis and he no doubt died as his family fought for a better life for him.

Pressure has grown on Prime Minister David Cameron to increase Britain’s involvement in sharing the burden of the hundreds of thousands of people arriving on European soil.

Yvette Cooper, who is standing for the Labour leadership, suggested that it should be possible to take some 10,000 people seeking asylum.

The unnamed boy is just one of 2,500 people who have already died this year while fleeing violence, oppression and poverty and trying to reach Europe by sea.

The child, who is probably only two or three years old, was found on a beach in Bodrum on Wednesday and his lifeless body was recovered by a Turkish gendarmerie.

The fate of his family is unknown, but it is believed his is one of at least 11 people who lost their lives when two boats capsized off the Turkish coast.

A vessel carrying 16 people reportedly sank in international waters after heading for the Greek island of Kos from the holiday resort. Only four people could be rescued.

Hours later, a second ship carrying six people sank – killing a woman and three children. Two migrants in life jackets were able to make it to shore half-conscious.

The route between Bodrum and Kos is one of the shortest from Turkey to the Greek islands – about 13 miles. Thousands are attempting the perilous sea crossing despite the risks.

At least 2,500 people have already died trying to reach Europe by sea this year.

As thousands of families in Iceland offer to accommodate Syrian refugees, Austria and Germany have condemned the UK for not opening the doors to asylum seekers.

According to the Independent: Along with Afghan citizens, Syrians make up the bulk of the people fleeing conflict in their homeland to seek a safer home in Europe.

But while images of desperate refugees emerge almost every day, the attitude of Europe’s policymakers and much of the public have continued to harden.

In Britain, David Cameron and Philip Hammond have been criticised for the “dehumanising” language they use to describe refugees.

The Prime Minister described migrants coming to the UK as a “swarm”, and later said he would not “allow people to break into our country”.

Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, said refugees were “marauding” around Calais. Amnesty International called his comments “shameful”.