Migrant crisis: Drowned boy's father speaks of heartbreak
The father of a three-year-old Syrian boy found drowned on a beach in Turkey has told the BBC of the harrowing circumstances of his death.
Alan Kurdi's father Abdullah said that shortly after their boat left Turkey for the Greek island of Kos it was hit by waves and the captain swam off.
"I tried to catch my children and wife but there was no hope. One by one they died," Mr Kurdi said.
The family were among thousands fleeing Syria and seeking a new life abroad.
Images of Alan's body being recovered from a beach near Bodrum caused an outpouring of sympathy for the plight of those fleeing Syria's civil war and criticism of European governments for not doing enough to answer the crisis.
Thousands of migrants have died this year trying to reach Europe by sea.
"I tried to steer the boat but another high wave pushed the boat over. That is when it happened," Mr Kurdi said.
"My children were the most beautiful children in the world. Is there anybody in the world for whom their child is not the most precious thing?" Mr Kurdi said.
"My kids were amazing. They woke me every day to play with me. What is more beautiful than this? Everything is gone.
"I would love to sit next to the grave of my family now and relieve the pain I feel," he said.
Alan, his five-year-old brother Ghalib and mother Rehanna were among 12 Syrians who died after two boats capsized soon after setting off for Kos.
Turkish police have arrested four suspected traffickers over the deaths. The four men are all Syrian nationals aged between 30 and 41, according to the Turkish Dogan news agency.
Alan and the rest of the group his family was travelling with are believed to have been Syrians from the besieged town of Kobane who had fled to Turkey last year to escape advancing militants from the Islamic State (IS) group.
A Turkish hospital official told AFP news agency that the bodies of the family would be flown to Istanbul and then to Suruc on the Turkish border before reaching Kobane.
Abdullah's sister in Vancouver, Teema Kurdi, said she had wanted to bring him and his family to Canada but had first tried to sponsor another brother - an application that had failed.
Canada's department of citizenship and immigration confirmed that there was no record of an application for Abdullah Kurdi and his family.
Who Alan Kurdi's father Abdullah
What He has told the BBC of the harrowing circumstances of his son's death.
When Not given
Where Not given
How Not given
Why The harrowing circumstances of his son's death
Keywords
1 harrow 傷痛；使痛苦
2 circumstance 命運；境遇
3 flee 逃離
4 outpouring 湧現(n.)
5 steer 操縱；掌舵
6 capsize 翻覆
7 trafficker 販子；做違法勾當者
8 besiege 圍攻；圍困
9 militant 激進份子
10 sponsor 資助
The little boy's death makes people know how serious the situation happens in Syria. Maybe, we who lived in a peacful place would not know how tough the live is but I think only through the international news can we realize it.
回覆刪除The little boy found drowned on a beach woke up our concern about the migrants. In fact, there were countless migrans died when traveled to European. And other countries shouldn't turn a blind eye to make more people died. We should take action to solve the problem.
回覆刪除The little boy found drowned on a beach woke up our concern about the migrants. In fact, there were countless migrans died when traveled to European. And other countries shouldn't turn a blind eye to make more people died. We should take action to solve the problem.
回覆刪除Now,the refugees problems not only belong to the European countries,but also every countries around the world. So, please do not ignore this hot issue and hope we can come up with a good resolution ,leading to a peaceful world in the future.
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