Read the article titled "trans-saharan migration routes to north africa and the eu: historical roots and current trends." why do tens of thousands of sub-saharan africans try to cross the mediterranean each year? how are these refugees commonly portrayed?

Tens of thousands of sub-Saharan Africans try to cross the Mediterranean each year because of various reasons: many tries to escape a life built on poverty and misery, other tries to get out from a very unstable country were they might not survive long or were there is a war in act, others tries to find a better life in the European countries, because there are no resources left in their own,
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These refugees are commonly portrayed as dangerous people, perhaps people that come in the European country to stole jobs from Eupoean, or to take bits of help from the country there are in without contributing to the country, or they are criminals that do not want to work or pay taxes, or sometimes they are also portrayed as terrorist.

Treated as a slave is cruel and harsh