London ‘lifejacket graveyard’ aims to send message to UN summit

Campaigners laid life jackets from the Greek beaches in Parliament Square as an all-day protest urging the United Kingdom to do more to help desperate migrants who are risking their lives making the treacherous crossing to Europe.

The “lifejacket graveyard” display includes 625 lifejackets that were used by children who fled unsafe countries to venture the risky journey to Europe.

Some 2,500 lives have been lost as families attempt to flee war-torn Syria across treacherous seas to mainland Europe.

The protest was organised by the production company Snappin Turtle, and was supported by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Médecins Sans Frontières, World Vision, Migrant Voice and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). “You can see the Disney stickers on some of them”, he told TIME. They represent a snapshot of what refugees go through and are an illusion of safety; many of them are not even seaworthy.

While the lifejackets seek to remind people of their collective responsibility towards refugees, London’s display caused some to express their disdain for the refugees and their plight.

Charities have laid out 2,500 life jackets worn by migrants, including 625 used by children, who attempted unsafe crossings.

The installation is being displayed on the same day of the United Nations Migration Summit that will be held in NY.

In 2016 in the Mediterranean, 3,212 migrants and refugees have died at sea, with deaths occurring more frequently this year than in 2015, according to the most recent figures reported by the International Organization for Migration.

The UN has estimated on average that 11 people have died every day during unsafe crossings.

It’s inspiring that these volunteers chose to acknowledge the lives and struggle of the refugees who crossed the risky sea. The display was laid out for just one day – 19 September.