An Egyptian court on Sunday sentenced 56 people to prison for up to 14 years for their involvement in a deadly capsizing of a boat carrying migrants and refugees. The boat capsized [Al Jazeera news report] close to the Egyptian coast last September, possibly on its way to Italy. 169 people were saved by rescuers and local fishermen, but at least 202 drowned. The 56 defendants were convicted [Guardian news report] of causing the accidental death of 202 passengers, not using sufficient rescue equipment, endangering lives, receiving money from the victims, hiding suspects from the authorities and using a vessel without a licence. Shortly after the accident the Egyptian government passed a new law instituting fines and prison terms for smuggling migrants and refugees, acting as brokers or facilitating journeys. The law also focused on treating the victims as victims rather than as illegal immigrants, possibly facing prosecution. Sunday’s decision was the first time the law had been officially utilized [DN Egypt news report].

The disaster was one of the deadliest in the Mediterranean sea, but far from the first one. In October 2016 the UN Refugee Agency (UNCHR) [official website] called 2016 the worst year for refugees [JURIST report] crossing the Mediterranean Sea as the death toll reached its highest point. In Augsust 2015 a rights group estimated [JURIST report] that 2000 people had already lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean that year. On March 1, UNICEF [official website] called for protection [JURIST report] of migrant women and children crossing the Mediterranean sea, as reports had documented increased risk of abuse and exploitation.