UNHCR: Paying People Smugglers Encourages Them & Doesn’t Work

The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees, Thomas Vargas, has stated paying people smugglers will not work and could encourage the smugglers.

UNHCR staff members have interviewed the crews that had been paid by Australian officials. Those interviewed by the UNHCR have identified Australian navy and custom boats.

Mr Vargas said that paying the people smugglers “is against the tradition of rescue at sea, against the tradition and the conventions on rescue at sea, and at the law of the sea as well”