DESPERATE WORKERS

In their desperate struggle to survive many workers from Africa try to get to Europe by any means possible. "The only survivor of 54 Africans who tried to cross to Italy in an inflatable boat has described throwing overboard the bodies of fellow passengers who died during the voyage. Abbes Settou, from Eritrea, who was rescued by Tunisian fishermen, said the migrants, including three members of his family, and ten women, slowly died of hunger, thirst and exhaustion." (Times, 12 July) According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) some 170 migrant have died attempting the Mediterranean crossing this year. Capitalism's hellish conditions force workers into unbearable situations. RD