2015年经济学人 地中海移民 令人发指的人数

（单词翻译）

Migrants in the Mediterranean¹

The numbers nightmare

Ever more people are drowning while trying to get to Europe

IN THE sea separating north Africa from the European Union, the phrase “calm waters” now has an ominous³ ring.

After the weather improved this week, almost 8,500 illegal migrants were rescued.

Some brought tales of horror: of chaos⁴ in Libya, of mistreatment and torture at the hands of people-smugglers, and of deaths at sea.

As many as 400 died on April 12th when their boat capsized, apparently⁵ because they rushed to one side when rescuers appeared.

Migrants sometimes lie to get sympathy. But the Italian authorities are taking seriously a claim that a trafficker threw to sharks the body of a dead

(or perhaps unconscious) migrant, apparently overcome by fumes⁶.

The latest wave of arrivals confirms that the EU faces a challenge of unprecedented⁷ proportions.

According to the International Organisation⁸ for Migration⁹, more than 15,000 people have reached Italy since the start of the year.

The UN High Commissioner¹⁰ for Refugees says not enough is being done to save lives.

On humanitarian¹¹ grounds alone, the EU's present response, Operation Triton, is inadequate¹².

The remit¹³ of its vessels¹⁴ is to patrol within 30 miles (48 km) off the Italian coast.

Triton replaced the bigger Operation Mare² Nostrum¹⁵, which Italy suspended at the end of 2014 partly because other EU countries would not share the burden of search and rescue.

Italy's partners say they have migration and asylum¹⁶ problems of their own.

Anyway, many migrants who come ashore¹⁷ in Italy disappear north before being identified—with the connivance¹⁸ of the Italian authorities.

Both numbers and drownings seem likely to rise.