Latest news with #MissingMigrantsProject
Ya Biladi
23-05-2025
- Ya Biladi
Morocco at the heart of rising migrant deaths on irregular routes in 2024, report finds
DR A report released Wednesday by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reveals that irregular migration across and within the Middle East and North Africa continues to take a devastating toll in 2024. Thousands of people have embarked on perilous journeys seeking safety, protection, and hope for a better future. According to data from IOM's Missing Migrants Project, at least 3,488 deaths and disappearances were recorded in the region this year. The report notes that this figure likely underestimates the true scale, as many deaths remain unreported. Of the 3,488 individuals documented as having died or disappeared along migration routes within or originating from the region, around 60% remain unidentified. Drowning remains the leading cause of death, while fatalities due to exposure, accidents, and violence have increased along several land and sea routes. The Mediterranean Route The Central Mediterranean route continues to be the deadliest sea passage in the region, with over 1,700 deaths and disappearances recorded in 2024. Tunisia and Libya remain major departure points for migrants attempting the dangerous crossing to Europe. At least 581 deaths and disappearances were recorded in 2024 across Algeria (288), Morocco (198), and Spain (95), marking this route as one of the most active and hazardous in the Middle East and North Africa. In Morocco, some deaths occurred during attempts to reach Almería, while many bodies were found near Ceuta, off the coasts of Nador, Fnideq, and Boukané. Numerous drownings involved individuals trying to swim across maritime borders, especially around Tarajal and Chorrillo. Kenitra emerged as a hotspot with 75 deaths or disappearances reported, highlighting increased activity in less-monitored coastal areas. The report also noted ongoing fatalities near Tangier and the Driouch region, where several boats attempting to reach southern Spain, Ceuta, or Melilla met tragic ends. The Atlantic Route The Atlantic maritime route from West Africa to the Canary Islands recorded the highest death toll since data collection began, with 1,095 deaths and disappearances—including 138 off the Moroccan coast. This surge reflects a worrying trend toward longer, more dangerous sea journeys to the Canary Islands, driven by limited safe alternatives. This route connects West African coastal countries—particularly Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco—with the Spanish Canary Islands, creating a highly perilous maritime corridor to Europe. Often seen as an alternative by migrants and smugglers alike, the journey is significantly longer and riskier, with boats frequently losing contact or capsizing far from shore. Key departure points include northern Senegal, southern Morocco, and Mauritania, while the Canary Islands serve as the main European entry point. In 2024, 46,843 migrants arrived via this route, up from 39,910 in 2023, demonstrating continued reliance on this high-risk passage. The majority of arrivals were from Mali (16,773), Senegal (12,877), Guinea (4,176), Morocco (3,939), and Mauritania (3,100). The report calls on countries to enhance forensic capacities for body recovery, identification, and dignified handling. It urges the establishment of regional standards and protocols for identifying remains, repatriation, and family notification, especially along high-mortality routes such as those in Libya, Egypt, and Morocco.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
French officials hand life jackets to migrants crossing Channel
The French authorities are providing life jackets to small boat migrants to ensure they can cross the Channel safely, experts have revealed. Officials have been handing out the life-saving devices because people smugglers do not, according to maritime experts. The jackets are then returned to the French once the migrants have been escorted to the mid-point of the Channel and are rescued by the British authorities, so that they can be re-used for future crossings. It comes as a record number of migrants have crossed the Channel in the first three months of year. So far some 7,228 have reached the UK in 131 small boats, up 31 per cent on the 5,517 who arrived at the same point last year. UK officials say the growing success of pan-European efforts to disrupt the supply chains of the people smugglers for boats, engines and equipment means they are cramming more migrants into lower-quality dinghies. At least 82 people including 14 children died trying to cross the Channel in 2024, a record high, according to the International Organisation for Migration's Missing Migrants Project. In January a Syrian migrant was 'crushed to death' in a leaking dinghy, according to French authorities. A spokesman for France's North Sea maritime prefecture said: 'Depending on the assessment of the situation on small boats, French maritime authorities can distribute life jackets. It is not systematic and depends on the assessment of the risks and benefits of the situation and the cooperation of the people being assisted. 'It is often in emergency situations, either due to the conditions of the vessel or weather conditions. It can be when some people wish to be rescued and others wish to continue in difficult conditions. 'British and French authorities work in an intelligent fashion to recover and recycle life jackets. There can be exchanges between boats or periodic handovers.' Fisherman Matt Coker, owner of Coker Seafishing, told Times Radio that he suspected it was due to the people smugglers failing to provide life jackets. 'The French, they're giving them life jackets now because so many of them are not getting in the boats with life jackets. I suppose... they're trying to avoid another tragedy,' he said. Mr Coker said he had witnessed more migrants crossing in the past six months. 'It seems to have gone back to what it was two or three years ago, which is, I mean, there seems to be lots of boats all at the same time coming on every possible day,' he said. 'Whereas before that, it did seem to… slow up to just a few boats a day and it was only when the weather was perfect. Now they seem to be leaving the beaches, I suppose, you know, more often.' He said the French were giving migrants safe passage to the UK. 'The French are actually escorting them through the shipping lane to give them a safe passage. And they're only making half the journey now. So... I suppose it is safer, but it almost seems to me like it might be encouraging the problem as well,' he said. 'It's safer for you to cross the Channel now than it's ever been because you'll have an escort from when you leave the beach and you'll be given safe passage and you'll only have to make half the journey because the UK Border Force will be waiting on the border to pick you up, rather than waiting well within UK waters.' More than 6,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to Britain so far in 2025. The rate of migrant Channel crossings under Sir Keir Starmer had been higher than under any of his Conservative predecessors. But just five people have been convicted of piloting small boats to Britain this year. At least 119 dinghies have arrived in Britain from France in the past three months, with the numbers increasing amid warmer weather and calmer seas. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
10-04-2025
- General
- Telegraph
French officials hand life jackets to migrants crossing Channel
The French authorities are providing life jackets to small boat migrants to ensure they can cross the Channel safely, experts have revealed. Officials have been handing out the life-saving devices because people smugglers do not, according to maritime experts. The jackets are then returned to the French once the migrants have been escorted to the mid-point of the Channel and are rescued by the British authorities, so that they can be re-used for future crossings. It comes as a record number of migrants have crossed the Channel in the first three months of year. So far some 7,228 have reached the UK in 131 small boats, up 31 per cent on the 5,517 who arrived at the same point last year. UK officials say the growing success of pan-European efforts to disrupt the supply chains of the people smugglers for boats, engines and equipment means they are cramming more migrants into lower-quality dinghies. At least 82 people including 14 children died trying to cross the Channel in 2024, a record high, according to the International Organisation for Migration's Missing Migrants Project. In January a Syrian migrant was 'crushed to death' in a leaking dinghy, according to French authorities. A spokesman for France's North Sea maritime prefecture said: 'Depending on the assessment of the situation on small boats, French maritime authorities can distribute life jackets. It is not systematic and depends on the assessment of the risks and benefits of the situation and the cooperation of the people being assisted. 'It is often in emergency situations, either due to the conditions of the vessel or weather conditions. It can be when some people wish to be rescued and others wish to continue in difficult conditions. 'British and French authorities work in an intelligent fashion to recover and recycle life jackets. There can be exchanges between boats or periodic handovers.' Fisherman Matt Coker, owner of Coker Seafishing, told Times Radio that he suspected it was due to the people smugglers failing to provide life jackets. 'The French, they're giving them life jackets now because so many of them are not getting in the boats with life jackets. I suppose... they're trying to avoid another tragedy,' he said. Mr Coker said he had witnessed more migrants crossing in the past six months. 'It seems to have gone back to what it was two or three years ago, which is, I mean, there seems to be lots of boats all at the same time coming on every possible day,' he said. 'Whereas before that, it did seem to… slow up to just a few boats a day and it was only when the weather was perfect. Now they seem to be leaving the beaches, I suppose, you know, more often.' He said the French were giving migrants safe passage to the UK. 'The French are actually escorting them through the shipping lane to give them a safe passage. And they're only making half the journey now. So... I suppose it is safer, but it almost seems to me like it might be encouraging the problem as well,' he said. ' It's safer for you to cross the Channel now than it's ever been because you'll have an escort from when you leave the beach and you'll be given safe passage and you'll only have to make half the journey because the UK Border Force will be waiting on the border to pick you up, rather than waiting well within UK waters.' More than 6,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to Britain so far in 2025. The rate of migrant Channel crossings under Sir Keir Starmer had been higher than under any of his Conservative predecessors. But just five people have been convicted of piloting small boats to Britain this year. At least 119 dinghies have arrived in Britain from France in the past three months, with the numbers increasing amid warmer weather and calmer seas.
Euronews
01-04-2025
- General
- Euronews
Migrant deaths hit new record high in 2024, United Nations agency says
ADVERTISEMENT At least 8,938 people died on migration routes worldwide in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record, according to the latest International Organization for Migration (IOM) figures. This number continues a five-year trend of increasing deaths each year, surpassing the previous record of 8,747 migrant deaths recorded in 2023. "The tragedy of the growing number of migrant deaths worldwide is both unacceptable and preventable. Behind every number is a human being, someone for whom the loss is devastating," said IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, Ugochi Daniels. July 2024 was the month with the highest number of deaths and missing persons, recording 1,130 individuals. Asia experienced the most deaths, with 2,778 people recorded, followed by Africa with 2,242 deaths, and Europe with 233. Across the world, deaths due to drowning, vehicle accidents, lack of adequate shelter, food, water, and violence remained the principal causes for people on the move. Since 2022, at least 10% of all migrant deaths recorded occurred because of violence. In Europe, the number decreased to 6%. In 2024, this was due in large part to violence against those in transit in Asia, with nearly 600 lives lost on migration routes across South and Southeastern Asia. Missing migrants not recovered from the sea or identified The actual number of migrant deaths and disappearances is likely much higher, as many deaths go undocumented due to a lack of official sources. Since 2014, the remains of more than 30,000 people who lost their lives during migration have not been recovered. According to the IOM's Missing Migrants Project, there are likely tens of thousands of families who have loved ones who disappeared along the Central and Western Mediterranean routes towards Europe alone. Related EU borders recorded over 120,000 migrant pushbacks in 2024, says report by NGOs "The rise in deaths is terrible in and of itself, but the fact that thousands remain unidentified each year is even more tragic," said Julia Black, coordinator of IOM's Missing Migrants Project. "Beyond the despair and unresolved questions faced by families who have lost a loved one, the lack of more complete data on risks faced by migrants hinders lifesaving responses." The deadliest route is the Central Mediterranean route, where more than 24,000 people have died in the last decade. ADVERTISEMENT In Europe, the migration routes which caused the most fatalities were the Western Balkans and the English Channel to the UK. The Western Balkans route is typically used by migrants, including asylum seekers, who arrive in Greece or Bulgaria from Turkey and are trying to reach Western or Northern Europe. "The increase in deaths across so many regions in the world shows why we need an international, holistic response that can prevent further tragic loss of life," said Daniels.
Al Jazeera
21-03-2025
- General
- Al Jazeera
Migrant deaths hit record number in 2024, UN agency says
Nearly 9,000 people died last year trying to cross borders, the United Nations agency for migration says. The death toll set a new grim record for the fifth year in a row. The number of deaths on migratory routes has more than doubled since 2020. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded 8,938 migrant deaths in 2024. The real death toll is likely much higher given that many deaths go unreported or undocumented, the IOM said in a statement on Friday. 'The rise of deaths is terrible in and of itself, but the fact that thousands remained unidentified each year is even more tragic,' Julia Black, coordinator of the IOM's Missing Migrants Project, said in the statement. The IOM's deputy director general for operations, Ugochi Daniels, said: 'The increase in deaths across so many regions in the world shows why we need an international, holistic response that can prevent further tragic loss of life.' 'Behind every number is a human being, someone for whom the loss is devastating,' he added. Asia was the region with the most reported fatalities with 2,788, followed by the Mediterranean Sea with 2,452 and Africa with 2,242. Final data are not yet in for the Americas, but at least 1,233 deaths (including 341 in the Caribbean) occurred in 2024. At least 233 migrants lost their lives in Europe and 174 in the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama, a new record. According to the IOM, migrants are all people who leave their place of residence for any reason, for any length of time, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Some seek asylum because they are fleeing war or violence. News of the record death toll comes days after the agency announced it was suspending many 'lifesaving' programmes around the world and firing hundreds of employees due to United States aid cuts, impacting millions of vulnerable migrants and refugees worldwide. The Geneva-based IOM is one of several groups helping displaced people that have been hit by major US aid cuts, forcing it to scale back or shutter programmes, which it said will have a severe impact on migrants.
