News Desk :
More than 3,000 people died or went missing last year while trying to cross the Mediterranean and the Atlantic to reach Europe, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
Of the total, 1,924 people were reported to have died or gone missing on the Central and Western Mediterranean routes, and 1,153 on the Northwest African maritime route to the Canary Islands, finds the UNHCR’s new report “Protection, saving lives, & solutions for refugees in dangerous Journeys”.
Fatalities for 2020, stood at 1,776 for the three routes – reflecting an increase of 478 people since the beginning of this year, reports UNB.
Most of the sea crossings took place in packed, unseaworthy, inflatable boats – many of which capsized or were deflated leading to the loss of life, UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said Friday.
The sea journey from West African coastal states, such as Senegal and Mauritania to the Canary Islands, is long and perilous and can take up to 10 days.
Many boats drifted off course or otherwise went missing without a trace in these waters, she said.
Land routes also continue to be highly dangerous, where even more people may have died on journeys through the Sahara Desert and remote border areas, in detention centres, or while being held by smugglers or traffickers.
Extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced labour and marriage are just some of the abuses reported by people travelling these routes.
Also, Covid-related border closures impacted movements towards North Africa and European coastal countries, with many desperate refugees and migrants turning to smugglers.
Continued political instability and conflicts, deteriorating socioeconomic conditions as well as the impact of climate change may increase displacement and dangerous onward movements, Shabia said.
In launching an updated protection and solutions strategy for refugees on dangerous journeys along routes towards Europe across the Central and Western Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic, the UNHCR appealed for support in providing meaningful alternatives to these dangerous journeys and preventing people from becoming victims of traffickers. The approach calls for increased humanitarian assistance, support and solutions for people in need of international protection and survivors of gross human rights abuses.
It covers some 25 countries across four regions connected by the same land and sea routes – used by migrants, asylum seekers and refugees – and includes countries of origin, departure, first asylum, transit and destination.
