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戦争や貧困などから逃れようと決めた難民や移住者は、これまでであれば密航業者に頼るしかなかった。密航業者は現金が用意できない者に対しては、臓器をもって対価を支払えと強いると言われている。
しかしそんな時代も、GoogleとFacebookのおかげで変わろうとしている。アイリッシュ・タイムズによると、難民たちは密航業者の代わりにFacebookのコミュニティやグーグルマップを頼り、旅のルートやWi-Fiスポットを探すのだという。
あるシリア人の男性の一行は、逃げる前に仲間がたどったルートをブックマーク。ギリシャに上陸するとすぐにGPSを確認し、正しいルートをたどっているかをグーグルマップで確認したとBBCのインタビューで明かした。
また、アフガニスタンからハンガリーへと向かっていたラミズさんという男性は、ボートで移動中、別のボートに乗った仲間から「国境警察と出くわした」とのメッセージを受け取ったと話した。写真データに埋め込まれている時間とGPS位置情報が、どのルートを避ければよいかという手助けになったという。
ニューヨーク・タイムズによると、シリアの内紛が始まった時と比べると、現在の密航業者の手数料は半分になっているという。当初はトラフィッカーによって、トルコからギリシャに渡る方法しかなかった。その当時の人々のたいていが、先日トルコの海岸へ打ち上げられた3歳アイラン・クルディ君のように、救命胴着すら買うことができなかった。
しかし、多くの中流階級のシリア人は今、スマートフォンを持っている。そのことが、自国から脱出するルートを多様化させている。
さらに、国連難民高等弁務官事務所（UNHCR）はヨルダンのシリア人に3万3000枚のSIMカード、そして、携帯電話の充電が可能となるソーラーランタン8万5704個を配布した。
密航業者に頼らずにすめば、資金の節約ができるだけでなく、むちゃな賄賂からも逃れられる。UNHCRによると、8月にリビア海岸沖で、1隻のボートのなかで51人が窒息死している状態で発見されたが、その生存者が言うには、密航業者は船倉から出すときにも賄賂を要求したという。
もちろん、全ての難民が助かるわけではない。UNHCRによれば、2015年だけでも約2500人の難民・移民が、ヨーロッパへ向かう途中に死亡または行方不明になっているという。
それでも、数々の危険は、難民たちがより良い生活を求める妨げにはなっていない。
「すでに、途方に暮れて死んでしまうという状態にまで陥っていて、木片に掴まってでも逃げる覚悟はできているんです。それほど苦しい状態なのです」と、シリア出身のアブ・ザイドさんはガーディアン紙に語った。
「この4年間で、恐怖という段階はすでに通り越してしまいました。恐怖はもう心の中に、存在しないのです」
この記事はハフポストUS版に掲載されたものを翻訳しました。
コス島にたどり着いたこれまでの避難民たち
Greece Migrants(01 of31)
Migrants and refugees, one of them swims, arrive after crossing from Turkey, at the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. With the lights of the Greek island of Kos twinkling through the darkness, beacons of hope for a new and better life, another group of migrants has come through this wealthy tourist town to make a risky, but less risky than most, sea crossing and apply for asylum in Europe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Greece Migrants(02 of31)
Migrants and refugees, one of them swims, arrive after crossing from Turkey, at the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. With the lights of the Greek island of Kos twinkling through the darkness, beacons of hope for a new and better life, another group of migrants has come through this wealthy tourist town to make a risky, but less risky than most, sea crossing and apply for asylum in Europe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
APTOPIX Greece Migrants(03 of31)
Two Syrian refugees gesture as they swim from their boat after crossing from Turkey, at the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, early Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. With the lights of the Greek island of Kos twinkling through the darkness, beacons of hope for a new and better life, another group of migrants has come through this wealthy tourist town to make a risky, but less risky than most, sea crossing and apply for asylum in Europe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Migrants(04 of31)
Syrian migrants and refugees walk to the ferry Eleftherios Venizelos, which functions as a registration center and accommodation for migrants and refugees, after crossing by a boat from Turkey, in the southeastern Greek island of Kos early Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. With the lights of Kos twinkling through the darkness â beacons of hope for a new and better life â another group of migrants has set off to make a risky â but less risky than most â sea crossing and apply for asylum in Europe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemilianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Migrants(05 of31)
A Syrian refugee takes off his parka upon his arrival by a rubber boat with others after crossing from Turkey, in the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. With the lights of the Greek island of Kos twinkling through the darkness, beacons of hope for a new and better life, another group of migrants has come through this wealthy tourist town to make a risky, but less risky than most, sea crossing and apply for asylum in Europe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Migrants(06 of31)
A boat with migrants and refugees, right, escorted by a coastguard boat arrives at the port after crossing from Turkey, in the southeastern Greek island of Kos, Greece, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. Greek authorities said Sunday they have started resettling migrants living in tents in a park in the capital Athens â but many were wary and had moved out ahead of the operation. More than 130,000 migrants have reached Greece so far in 2015, straining the country\'s resources. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Migrants(07 of31)
A boat with migrants and refugees, left, escorted by a coastguard boat, right, arrives at a port after crossing from Turkey, at the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. With the lights of the Greek island of Kos twinkling through the darkness, beacons of hope for a new and better life, another group of migrants has come through this wealthy tourist town to make a risky, but less risky than most, sea crossing and apply for asylum in Europe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Migrants(08 of31)
An Iranian migrant boy looks at Greek riot police officers while waiting to be registered near a police station at the southeastern island after crossing from Turkey, at the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. Authorities on Kos were overwhelmed by the influx, and many locals vented anger at the crowds of refugees sleeping rough in parks and public spaces at the height of the key tourist season. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Migrants(09 of31)
Volunteers from a Dutch foundation distribute fresh water to migrants and refugees as they wait to be registered near a police station at the southeastern island after crossing from Turkey, at the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. Authorities on Kos were overwhelmed by the influx, and many locals vented anger at the crowds of refugees sleeping rough in parks and public spaces at the height of the key tourist season. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Migrants(10 of31)
Syrian migrants and refugees arrive after crossing from Turkey, at the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. With the lights of the Greek island of Kos twinkling through the darkness, beacons of hope for a new and better life, another group of migrants has come through this wealthy tourist town to make a risky, but less risky than most, sea crossing and apply for asylum in Europe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
GREECE-EUROPE-MIGRANTS(11 of31)
A Syrian boy waves from a bus taking him to the center of Piraeus, after disembarking from the Greek government-chartered Eleftherios Venizelos ferry on August 20, 2015. A Greek government-chartered ferry was transporting some 2,600 Syrian refugees to the Greek mainland, as islands struggling with an influx of migrants warned that the crisis is endangering public health. The Eleftherios Venizelos left the island of Kos with some 1,700 Syrian refugees on board, and picked up another 900 on the islands of Kalymnos, Leros and Lesbos. AFP PHOTO / LOUISA GOULIAMAKI (Photo credit should read LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LOUISA GOULIAMAKI via Getty Images)
GREECE-EUROPE-MIGRANTS(12 of31)
A young Syrian refugee cries after disembarking from the Greek government-chartered Eleftherios Venizelos ferry at the Piraeus port in Athens on August 20, 2015. A Greek government-chartered ferry was transporting some 2,600 Syrian refugees to the Greek mainland, as islands struggling with an influx of migrants warned that the crisis is endangering public health. The Eleftherios Venizelos left the island of Kos with some 1,700 Syrian refugees on board, and picked up another 900 on the islands of Kalymnos, Leros and Lesbos. AFP PHOTO / LOUISA GOULIAMAKI (Photo credit should read LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LOUISA GOULIAMAKI via Getty Images)
GREECE-EUROPE-MIGRANTS(13 of31)
A Syrian refugee carrying his baby disembarks from the Greek government-chartered Eleftherios Venizelos ferry at the Piraeus port in Athens on August 20, 2015. A Greek government-chartered ferry was transporting some 2,600 Syrian refugees to the Greek mainland, as islands struggling with an influx of migrants warned that the crisis is endangering public health. The Eleftherios Venizelos left the island of Kos with some 1,700 Syrian refugees on board, and picked up another 900 on the islands of Kalymnos, Leros and Lesbos. AFP PHOTO / LOUISA GOULIAMAKI (Photo credit should read LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LOUISA GOULIAMAKI via Getty Images)
Greece Refugee Crisis(14 of31)
Migrants on a dinghy arrives at the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, after crossing from Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015. Greece has become the main gateway to Europe for tens of thousands of refugees and economic migrants, mainly Syrians fleeing war, as fighting in Libya has made the alternative route from north Africa to Italy increasingly dangerous. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Refugee Crisis(15 of31)
A migrant speaks to his child as they stand on a beach after crossing with a dinghy from Turkey to the southeastern Greek island of Kos, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. Dozens of people from the Middle East reached the Greek island of Kos from nearby Turkey Wednesday, joining thousands already camped in wretched conditions on what is normally a tourist playground known for its sun and beaches. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Refugee Crisis(16 of31)
Migrants wait on a beach after crossing with a dinghy from Turkey to the southeastern Greek island of Kos, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. Dozens of people from the Middle East reached the Greek island of Kos from nearby Turkey Wednesday, joining thousands already camped in wretched conditions on what is normally a tourist playground known for its sun and beaches. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Greece Refugee Crisis(17 of31)
A migrant sits on a beach after crossing with a dinghy from Turkey to the southeastern Greek island of Kos, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. Dozens of people from the Middle East reached the Greek island of Kos from nearby Turkey Wednesday, joining thousands already camped in wretched conditions on what is normally a tourist playground known for its sun and beaches. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
GREECE-EUROPE-MIGRANTS(18 of31)
A migrant jumps off a small dinghy after arriving to the shores of the Greek island of Kos from Turkey on August 18, 2015. Authorities on the island of Kos have been so overwhelmed that the government sent a ferry to serve as a temporary centre to issue travel documents to Syrian refugees -- among some 7,000 migrants stranded on the island of about 30,000 people. The early hours are the safest time for migrants travelling from Turkey to the Greek islands just across the water, which have seen a huge influx of refugees escaping the civil war in Syria and chaos in Afghanistan since the beginning of this year. AFP PHOTO /LOUISA GOULIAMAKI (Photo credit should read LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:LOUISA GOULIAMAKI via Getty Images)
Greece Migrants(19 of31)
Syrian migrants and refugees hug each other upon their arrival after crossing from Turkey, at the southeastern island of Kos, Greece, Monday, Aug. 17, 2015. With the lights of the Greek island of Kos twinkling through the darkness, beacons of hope for a new and better life, another group of migrants has come through this wealthy tourist town to make a risky, but less risky than most, sea crossing and apply for asylum in Europe. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Migrants Arrive On The Beaches Of Kos In Greece(20 of31)
KOS, GREECE - AUGUST 29: A migrant from Gambia embraces a friend after safely completing a journey across a three mile stretch of the Aegean Sea in a small boat from Turkey August 29, 2015 in Kos, Greece. Migrants from many parts of the Middle East and African nations continue to flood into Europe before heading from Athens, north to the Macedonian border. Since the beginning of 2015 the number of migrants using the so-called \'Balkans route\' has exploded with migrants arriving in Greece from Turkey and then travelling on through Macedonia and Serbia before entering the EU via Hungary. The number of people leaving their homes in war torn countries such as Syria, marks the largest migration of people since World War II. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Win McNamee via Getty Images)
Migrants - The Journey Through Europe(21 of31)
KOS, GREECE - AUGUST 29: Two migrants from Pakistan embrace after safely completing a journey across a three mile stretch of the Aegean Sea in a small boat from Turkey August 29, 2015 in Kos, Greece. Migrants from many parts of the Middle East and African nations continue to flood into Europe before heading from Athens, north to the Macedonian border. Since the beginning of 2015 the number of migrants using the so-called \'Balkans route\' has exploded with migrants arriving in Greece from Turkey and then travelling on through Macedonia and Serbia before entering the EU via Hungary. The number of people leaving their homes in war torn countries such as Syria, marks the largest migration of people since World War II. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Win McNamee via Getty Images)
Migrants Continue To Arrive On Greek Island Of Kos(22 of31)
KOS, GREECE - JUNE 02: Migrants are lined up on the dock after being picked up in a dinghy offshore making their way from Turkey on June 02, 2015 in Kos, Greece. Migrants are continuing to arrive on the Greek Island of Kos from Turkey who\'s shoreline lies approximately 5 Km away. Around 30,000 migrants have entered Greece so far in 2015, with the country calling for more help from its European Union counterparts. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
Migrants Continue To Arrive On Greek Island Of Kos(23 of31)
KOS, GREECE - JUNE 02: Migrants are lined up on the dock after being picked up in a dinghy offshore making their way from Turkey on June 02, 2015 in Kos, Greece. Migrants are continuing to arrive on the Greek Island of Kos from Turkey who\'s shoreline lies approximately 5 Km away. Around 30,000 migrants have entered Greece so far in 2015, with the country calling for more help from its European Union counterparts. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
Migrants Continue To Arrive On Greek Island Of Kos(24 of31)
KOS, GREECE - JUNE 02: Migrants are lined up on the dock after being picked up in a dinghy offshore making their way from Turkey on June 02, 2015 in Kos, Greece. Migrants are continuing to arrive on the Greek Island of Kos from Turkey who\'s shoreline lies approximately 5 Km away. Around 30,000 migrants have entered Greece so far in 2015, with the country calling for more help from its European Union counterparts. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
Migrants Continue To Arrive On Greek Island Of Kos(25 of31)
KOS, GREECE - JUNE 01: Men sleep in an abandoned hotel where many migrants have been sleeping on June 01, 2015 in Kos, Greece. Migrants are continuing to arrive on the Greek Island of Kos from Turkey who\'s shoreline lies approximately 5 Km away. Around 30,000 migrants have entered Greece so far in 2015, with the country calling for more help from its European Union counterparts. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
Migrants Continue To Arrive On Greek Island Of Kos(26 of31)
KOS, GREECE - JUNE 01: A boy cries as people queue for food and water outside an abandoned hotel where many migrants have been sleeping on June 01, 2015 in Kos, Greece. Migrants are continuing to arrive on the Greek Island of Kos from Turkey who\'s shoreline lies approximately 5 Km away. Around 30,000 migrants have entered Greece so far in 2015, with the country calling for more help from its European Union counterparts. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
GREECE-EUROPE-MIGRANTS(27 of31)
An Afghan migrant girl holds the hand of a woman as they arrive on a beach on the Greek island of Kos, after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece, on May 27, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Angelos Tzortzinis (Photo credit should read ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANGELOS TZORTZINIS via Getty Images)
GREECE-EUROPE-MIGRANTS(28 of31)
Afghan migrants arrive on a beach on the Greek island of Kos, after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece, on May 27, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Angelos Tzortzinis (Photo credit should read ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANGELOS TZORTZINIS via Getty Images)
KOS ISLAND, GREECE - MAY 08: "THE BLACK ROUTE". The Greek Islan(29 of31)
KOS ISLAND, GREECE - MAY 08: \'THE BLACK ROUTE\'. The Greek Islands are the gateway to Europe for many refugees. Scenes around Kos town on May 8th, 2015 in Kos Island, Greece. 13 Afghan\'s arrive in a tiny boat on the beach in Kos. The family recounted a harrowing story where they thought they would perish at sea with the two young children. They would be joing thousands of other migrants with similar tales at the Hotel Elias soon. (Photos by Charles Ommanney / The Washington Post via Getty Images) (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
KOS ISLAND, GREECE - MAY 07: "THE BLACK ROUTE". The Greek Islan(30 of31)
KOS ISLAND, GREECE - MAY 07: \'THE BLACK ROUTE\'. The Greek Islands are the gateway to Europe for many refugees. Scenes around Kos town on May 7th, 2015 in Kos Island, Greece. A young Syrian family cooks two small fish on a fire out the back of the Captain Elias hotel. A young member of the family plays with a phone handset as she waits her share of the fish. (Photos by Charles Ommanney / The Washington Post via Getty Images) (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
GREECE-EUROPE-MIGRANTS(31 of31)
Afghan migrant women arrive on a beach on the Greek island of Kos, after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece, on May 27, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Angelos Tzortzinis (Photo credit should read ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ANGELOS TZORTZINIS via Getty Images)
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この記事はハフポストUS版に掲載されたものを翻訳しました。