Life Jacket 'Graveyard' in London Highlights Refugee Crisis

Image: Protestors Create A "Graveyard Of Lifejackets" To Coincide With The UN Migration Summit
Life jackets that were used by refugees to cross the sea to Europe are laid out in Parliament Square on Monday.Carl Court / Getty Images

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By James Okungu

As world leaders gather in New York at the United Nations migration summit, London's Parliament Square was covered in what organizers are calling a "life jacket graveyard." Some 2,500 life jackets used by refugees and migrants, including 625 used by children, were laid on the grounds on Monday.

Rahela Sidiqi, a trustee of Women for Refugee Women and originally from Afghanistan, views the life jackets.Carl Court / Getty Images

According to UNHCR, 298,099 refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe by Sea this year while an estimated 6,940 people drowned or went missing while attempting to make the crossing between January 2015 and August 2016.

The installation, supported by refugee charities, intends to focus attention of the UN summit on addressing the plight of refugees.

A life jacket that was used by a refugee is laid out in Parliament Square on Monday in London.Carl Court / Getty Images
Image: A photo of James OkunguJames Okungu