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Charles Lister

Charles Lister
@Charles_Lister

Sep 5, 2022
5 tweets
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2 children on the boat have died in recent days -- and the health of others are deteriorating. To ignore such a tragedy, just off #Malta's coast, represents an unspeakable lack of humanity. Time for someone to step up, @Government of Malta 🇲🇹.

Charles Lister

Charles Lister
@Charles_Lister

For 10 days, ~60 #Syria & #Lebanon migrants have been on a small boat trying to get to #Italy. 3 days ago, they ran out of food, water & baby formula -- & the boat is now taking on water. #Malta, #Greece & #Italy are refusing to dispatch rescue boats. They're slowly sinking.
That Syrians are still fleeing for #Europe is no surprise, particularly those in #Lebanon where authorities are preparing to *illegally force* them back to #Syria. 5+ million #Syria refugees remain in neighboring states & polling suggests ~0.5% would consider an eventual return.
Why do almost all #Syria refugees refuse to consider any future return to #Syria? The answer is obvious when you glance across basic facts -- see this thread from last week: twitter.com/Charles_Lister…
Charles Lister

Charles Lister
@Charles_Lister

So taking "the crisis is far from over" as a starting point, here are x10 things I'd suggest people should know about -- all of which by themselves should be enough to justify (a) public attention & (b) greater policy interest & investment. (Note: this list is not exhaustive).
UPDATE on the boatful of #Syria & #Lebanon migrants stranded off the coast of #Malta: - x1 more child died yesterday (3 total, now) - Contact with the ~60 passengers was lost overnight - #Malta has banned a cargo ship from rescuing the boat & has refused to help itself. WTH.
Under intense pressure - particularly by foreign diplomats - #Lebanon detained x5 security officers yesterday for torturing a #Syria refugee to death. He died of "severe torture" within 3hrs of his arrest on unknown charges. And you wonder why Syrians are fleeing on boats?
Charles Lister

Charles Lister

@Charles_Lister
Senior Fellow & Director of @MEI_Syria & @MEI_CTE programs at @MiddleEastInst. Author, analyst & more. American-British in DC.
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