It’s a humanitarian problem that doesn’t get much coverage.

But it grabs the headlines when their plight is caught on video as their flimsy boat breaks up and dozens of them drown.

The tragedy that unfolded on the rocky shores of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean really highlights the risks these people are prepared to take in the hope of a new life elsewhere.

The asylum seekers pay thousands of dollars each to people smugglers.

Often they have made their way to Indonesia or Malaysia before hiding in the jungles to await a smugglers vessel, which will try to take them to Australia.

They are then packed on these flimsy boats that are often not seaworthy and then try to island hop all the way to Australia.

Many of these people have relatives in Australia already or have been processed through there to another country that is prepared to take refugees.

These asylum seekers are often tempted by the embellished stories of their relatives about the good life they have now in Australia or elsewhere.

Thousands make the journey each year and most of them end up in either refugee camps in Indonesia or if they actually get to Australian territory then they are sent to Christmas Island where this tragedy unfolded.

The detention facility there holds the refugees until they are processed and if there story shows they could be persecuted back in their homeland they are then likely to be allowed into Australia or another country which is prepared to take them.

The issue is though politically sensitive in Australia.

The government there is trying to influence these refugees to not attempt the arduous sea crossing but with not much effect so far with thousands continuing to come each year.

Until they find a solution such as the possibility of building a detention facility in the neighboring country of East Timor it seems likely that these refugees from war-torn states like Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka will keep on trying to make the sea crossing.