Fatal Odyssey- Tori Gonzalez Current Event

John Hamilton, a search and rescue leader for refugees, is use to his usual routine searching for migrant ships on the Mediterranean Sea. He is use to the procedure of assuming how many people are actually on a boat, and what their conditions may be. But he will never get use to the horror of telling a mother she has lost her child, or the horror of seeing the corpses of the passengers who dreamed of a better life at sea.
Since 2011, Libya has been an unbalanced country ruled by anarchy. With no control or enforcement, many have taken it upon themselves to search for a better life and decide to leave home. While the dreams of these passengers are inspiring and powerful, the journey is more deadly than they realize. Not only do they pay $200-$400 to be smuggled to the sea, but their closest destination may not be as close as it seems. The Italian Island of Lampedusa, is the territory with the smallest distance from countries such as Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. However it takes 40 hours by boat that apparently go no higher than 5 miles per hour, resulting in a record-breaking amount of casualties. As of August 25, 2016 the record for deaths in the Mediterranean Sea was 3,165 deaths.
While John Hamilton has even claimed, "I wouldn't do that crossing. Not even my own, never my family. These crossings are fatal." So many forget what these people are leaving behind, and their dreams of a better life. While the conditions of these trips are ruthless, it is nothing compared to the horrors these voyagers are trying to escape. The chances of these trips ending are slim to none, but their chances of a better life increase with rescuers such as Hamilton who spend their time and effort in hopes of saving these refugees before it is too late.

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2016/08/world/dangerous-migrant-crossings-mediterranean/index.html