Migrant crisis: photos of dead Syrian boy 'wake-up call' for PM
Graphic photographs of child washed up on Turkish beach should 'force the EU to come together'
Photographs of a dead Syrian child washed up on the shore in Turkey have been described as a "wake-up call" for David Cameron and the rest of Europe to help the record number of people fleeing conflict in their home countries.
A picture of the little boy being carried by a Turkish official features on the covers of several UK newspapers today, some dedicating their entire front pages to the image.
The boy is believed to be one of 12 Syrian refugees who had been trying to cross the Mediterranean on two boats headed to the Greek island of Kos.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Independent has defended its decision to publish a more graphic image of the boy lying face down in the sand, arguing that "it is all too easy to forget the reality of the desperate situation facing many refugees". If these "extraordinarily powerful images" don't change Europe's attitude to refugees, "what will?" asks the newspaper.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the pictures were "beyond horrific" and are "the wake-up call David Cameron needs", while the Daily Mirror says the pictures are a wake-up call not only for Cameron, but for all of Europe.
"On our Continent and off its shores a terrible humanitarian tragedy is unfolding, which shames all those governments, including the British, which turn their backs on desperate people," says the newspaper. "To save others, let the awful death of that boy be the moment we all stood up to be counted by doing the right thing."
The photographs have spread across social media, with many praising the power of photojournalism. However, some accused sections of the media of hypocrisy, pointing out that calls to keep migrants out of the UK have turned to calls for humanity, on the axis of a photograph. Others expressed dismay that it took a photograph to inspire compassion when more than 220,000 people had already died in the Syrian conflict.
But human rights activists have argued that the distressing images need to be seen and that they could act as a catalyst for the international community to take action.
Justin Forsyth, CEO of Save the Children, told The Guardian: "This tragic image of a little boy who's lost his life fleeing Syria is shocking and is a reminder of the dangers children and families are taking in search of a better life. This child's plight should concentrate minds and force the EU to come together and agree to a plan to tackle the refugee crisis."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 17, 2024
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - political anxiety, jury sorting hat, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rain
Speed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The most memorable newspaper front pages of 2023
In Depth From resignations and Covid revelations to Hamas's deadly attack
By The Week UK Published
-
'One Bethlehem church nativity scene has infant Jesus lying among the rubble'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
The best tabloid stories of 2022
feature From Heidi Klum’s ‘worm body’ to a four-year-old joyrider and a man covered in spoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
The varying accounts of how Shireen Abu Akleh was killed
In Depth Eyewitnesses say Israeli soldiers ‘assassinated’ Al Jazeera journalist but PM claims Palestinians may be responsible
By The Week Staff Published
-
Graham Phillips: the civil servant-turned-Putin propagandist
Why Everyone’s Talking About Former bureaucrat interviews British PoW in Ukraine
By The Week Staff Published
-
The psychological war between Russia and Ukraine
Why Everyone’s Talking About Ukraine is harnessing social media to combat Moscow’s blunt fear tactics
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: child soldiers, gender disparity and saving techno
podcast Why are more child soldiers being recruited? What can be done to close the gender pay gap? And would Unesco status kill the cool of Berlin’s club scene?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Capitol riot suspect is applying for asylum in Belarus, state media says
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published