“The Boat is Safe and Other Lies”: Why families are risking everything to reach Europe

This document is a collection of narratives from Syrian families who have fled the situation in Syria. They describe the lives they left behind, as well as the dangers, discrimination, and extreme conditions they went through during the journey to Italy.

This report looks at the numbers of Syrian families migrating across the Mediterranean, how this trend became significant, and how it continues to grow. It also considers factors that distinguish Syrians from other groups of migrants attempting this maritime voyage. The goal of the majority of Syrian refugees is to reach other EU countries, to reunite with family members and other loved ones.