The distance that Aylan’s family tried to negotiate was not that great, just a few miles. Had the family been given safe passage on a seaworthy craft or by train and road they would have lived. But they are required to risk death in order to get to Europe and are being encouraged to do so by a growing clamour for the EU to take all-comers. Angela Merkel has declared that anyone from Syria who makes it to Germany will be considered for asylum. It is hardly surprising, then, that despite the risks, thousands are now travelling through Greece, Hungary and the Balkans, desperate to reach Germany, from where they will eventually be able to travel elsewhere should they wish.