The Sunday, February 26th shipwreck off the coast of Italy was devastating for many. The Italian Coast Guard reported that 43 migrants perished when a wooden boat carrying 80 people was smashed into rocks after being crowded into a 20-meter (66-foot) long boat in adverse weather conditions. The majority of the migrants were rescued, but sadly, the event serves as a stark reminder of the brutal realities of human trafficking.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences to the families affected and called out human traffickers for the “inhumane” exchange of life for a ticket. She pledged to use her power to push other European Union leaders to assist in cracking down on human smugglers and to help the Italian efforts.

The scene of the shipwreck at Steccato di Cutro beach, in Calabria Italy, is heartbreaking. Splintered wood, colored blankets, and bodies of the deceased lay