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Red T-shirt, navy pants, tiny Velcro shoes, one snap slightly undone as often happens with children. But this toddler's body was lifeless as ocean waves lapped up to gently touch his dark brown hair.
The grim discovery of a dead migrant child washed up along the shores of a Turkish resort town brought fresh horror and renewed calls Wednesday for European nations to take firm action to halt the growing crisis.
The child — a boy who appeared to be no more than 3 years old — was one of at least 12 Syrian migrants who died on two boats trying to cross the sea to the Greek island of Kos, Turkish media reported Wednesday. At least three of the dead found on the beach in Bodrum in southern Turkey were children, according to the reports.
The town is a popular location for migrants trying to reach Kos, which is among the shortest routes by sea from Asia to the European Union, the state-run Andalou Agency reported.
In a series of images shared widely on social media Wednesday, Turkish authorities walked up to the child's body before lifting him off the wet sand and carrying him away. The body of a young man was found nearby.
USA TODAY does not typically publish graphic images of dead bodies. It decided to use this photo because it illustrates the significant horror of the situation as thousands of migrants risk their lives seeking refuge in Europe. USA TODAY believes the news value of the photo outweighed the usual reluctance to publish such pictures.