Life-jacket graveyard creates startling visual impact of refugee crisis

Aid organizations laid out 2,500 life-jackets symbolizing refugee crossings to Europe in a demonstration outside the British parliament on Monday timed to coincide with a United Nations summit on the worldwide migrant crisis.

The orange life-jackets spread out on the lawn of Parliament Square were worn by adults and children travelling from Turkey to Greece, part of a wave of migrants attempting the Mediterranean crossing to get to mainland Europe.

Take more refugees

Rehab Sidiqi, a trustee of Woman for Refugee Women and originally from Afghanistan, poses for a photograph among 2,500 life-jackets laid out on the lawn of Britain's Parliament Sept. 19. Aid organizations have often called on Britain to take more refugees. 

A message for world leaders

In New York, leaders of 193 states were gathering for the United Nations General Assembly, which was opening with its first summit specifically addressing global movements of refugees and migrants. "We hope this will send a message to the world leaders to call for durable solutions," said Sanj Srikanthan, head of policy and practice at International Rescue Committee.

Remembering those lost

The United Nations estimates 6,940 people drowned or went missing while trying to reach Europe between January 2015 and August 2016.

Jackets in all sizes

A young boy sits among the stark display of life-jackets used by adults and children to cross the sea to Europe.

Britain defends its record

British Prime Minister Theresa May was preparing to defend her country's record at the summit, affirming the right of all countries to control their borders, according to a government statement. She is expected to call for "reducing unmanaged population movement" along with measures to help refugees claim asylum in the first safe countries they reach.

Human rights groups unite

The United Nations refugee body UNHCR, International Rescue Committee, Migrant Voice, World Vision and Doctors without Borders collaborated for the display, which they called a "life-jacket graveyard" to illustrate the risks migrants take.

Efforts falling short

The UN summit is overshadowed by the ongoing war in Syria and faltering U.S.-Russian efforts to halt the fighting. World leaders are set to adopt a declaration that human rights groups have already dismissed as falling short of the needed international response. 

Tourists hear stories

A group of tourists walk among the life-jackets at Parliament Square. A number of refugees were in attendance to share their stories with visitors.