Refugee helpers in Italy under pressure

The coast of Libya is home to thousands of refugees whose future is uncertain. While there are over ten NGO-run boats patrolling the coast to help, there is one agency that believes they may actually be playing into the hands of smugglers. This agency is Frontex, the European border control, and coast guard agency.

Frontex’s skepticism of the NGO’s approach forms the basis of a fascinating new documentary that takes an uncompromising and hard-hitting look at the intricacies of one of the region’s most pressing concerns. The documentary explores the politics, economics, and human impact of the refugee crisis, with a focus on the role of NGOs versus that of government agencies. In doing so, it offers a stark reminder of the enormous challenges that refugees face, as well as the uphill battle that those on the front lines of the crisis continue to fight to help those who need it most.