UK activists use life jackets to highlight global refugee crisis
Activists from international humanitarian organizations have taken part in a protest in London to raise awareness about the worldwide migrant crisis.
The aid organizations laid out 2,500 life jackets outside the British parliament on Monday to highlight the plight of refugees who die at sea and put pressure on governments to resolve the crisis.
The life jackets were worn by refugee children and adults crossing from Turkey to the Greek island of Chios.
Campaigners from the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Migrant Voice, World Vision, and Médecins Sans Frontières collaborated for the display.
The aid organizations want to encourage countries like the UK and the US to resettle more of the most vulnerable asylum seekers.
They are also calling for more “durable solutions” in affected countries, including increased investment in the healthcare and education sectors.
"We hope this will send a message to the world leaders to call for durable solutions," said Sanj Srikanthan, head of policy and practice at International Rescue Committee.
The United Nations refugee body UNHCR estimates nearly 7,000 people drowned or went missing while trying to reach Europe between January 2015 and August 2016.
In New York City, world leaders were gathering for the United Nations General Assembly, which was opening with its first-ever summit specifically addressing the global refugee crisis.
British Prime Minister Theresa May was preparing to defend her country's refugee record.
A UK government statement said May was expected to affirm the right of all countries to control their borders, and would call for "reducing unmanaged population movement" along with measures to help refugees claim asylum in the first safe countries they reach.
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