In the past few days, a significant increase in deaths among Syrian refugees attempting to reach Europe via smuggling routes has been reported. The grim surge coincides with an overall increase in immigration recently.
According to Orient Net, a reputable source for Middle Eastern news, at least seven Syrians perished in the past week while traversing overland smuggling routes to Europe. Most of the casualties occurred in the forests of Bulgaria.
In addition to deaths resulting from illness, exhaustion, and lack of food and water, various refugee-focused social media pages suggest that dozens of people are missing, their fate unknown.
The “Rescue Cell” Facebook page reported a recent death in the Bulgarian forests. The body of a young Syrian man, Hamza Ahmed Al-Matlouk, was discovered. He was left alone in the forest and reportedly died from exhaustion. The guide, fearing capture, refused to provide the body’s location, illustrating the chaos currently characterizing smuggling routes, where deaths are now a routine occurrence.
Another Syrian youth, Loai Hamoud from Aleppo, also died along the smuggling route in Bulgaria. His body was taken to the forensic department of a Bulgarian hospital.
Mahmoud, another Syrian refugee, was missing for days before his body was found. His family was informed by the smuggler that Mahmoud had been bitten by a snake, incapacitated, and left by a roadside.
In Serbia, another death was reported. Social media pages reveal that engineer Raman Ibrahim died in Serbian forests due to fatigue and exhaustion on his journey to Europe. Ibrahim, a recent graduate from an engineering college, hailed from the city of Qamishli in northeastern Syria.
Another young Syrian, Ahmed Al-Kanadi Al-Sheikh from Deir Ezzor’s countryside, died in Greece during his journey. Days before his death, young Syrian Fawaz Hashem, from Aleppo, also died in the Bulgarian forests. He was left alone in the forest due to fatigue and exhaustion.
A video of Hashem was circulated on social media after his body was found, depicting the smuggler interrogating him for money.
Late last month, local social media pages also mourned the death of young Syrians Rami Abboud Al-Issa from rural Manbij, east of Aleppo, and Fidaa Mohammed Khair Shalah from rural Damascus, who also died in the Bulgarian forests.
Syrian refugees face a host of violations, from smugglers to local authorities in the countries they pass through on their journey to Europe.
Tens of Syrian migrants, including children and women, stranded on a Greek island for nearly 20 days, appealed for help, as their lives became endangered due to the depletion of their water and food supplies.
These incidents underline the escalating humanitarian crisis faced by Syrian refugees attempting to reach Europe, highlighting the urgent need for effective international intervention to prevent further tragedies.
