Vale Amal Basry

Vale Amal Basry, a woman of great courage and humanity, who died in Melbourne on Saturday. After fleeing Iraq with her son, Amal boarded the SIEV X on her journey to Australia. On October 19, 2001 when the boat went down, Amal survived 15 hours in the cold dark ocean with her son.

Not content with surviving Amal became the witness to that terrible voyage. She retold the story of that night over and over so that those who drowned would not be forgotten. Amal reminded us that 146 children, 142 women and 65 men lost their lives in their flight to freedom and reunification with their families in Australia. Only 7 made it to Australia.

In this fifth anniversary year of the Siev X, the Tampa and the Children Overboard boats, we will not forget this brave woman who reminded us that life for refugees is a struggle requiring great courage and humanity.