SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERA surge in the number of illegal migrants attempting dangerous winter sea crossings to Europe has been driven by the increasing brutality of local authorities and people-smugglers in North Africa, according to reports. SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER“Libya is hell,” a migrant from Guinea-Bissau told AFP. “[The people-smugglers] treat us like goods that can be bought and sold.”“The [smugglers] would beat us every day and hang us [upside down] with rope,” said another. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz recently proposed the EU establish safe, offshore processing centres for alleged refugees. This would emulate the package of Australian policies which have completely eliminated the Antipodean migrant-smuggling trade and prevented countless drownings.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 28, 2017 16:08 UTC