Over 1,600 migrants attempting to reach Europe, mostly through the Mediterranean Sea, have either died or gone missing between January and July, with the death rate increasing dramatically compared with 2017 estimates, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in its report issued on Monday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd September, 2018) Over 1,600 migrants attempting to reach Europe, mostly through the Mediterranean Sea, have either died or gone missing between January and July, with the death rate increasing dramatically compared with 2017 estimates, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in its report issued on Monday.
"This report once again confirms the Mediterranean as one of the world's deadliest sea crossings ... With the number of people arriving on European shores falling, this is no longer a test of whether Europe can manage the numbers, but whether Europe can muster the humanity to save lives," UNHCR's Director of the Bureau for Europe Pascale Moreau was quoted as saying on the organization's website.
According to the report, dubbed Desperate Journeys, the number of migrants who have died or gone missing trying to enter Europe through Spain, Greece and Italy has dramatically increased. This year, there has been one death for every 18 people, compared to one death for every 42 people in 2017. However, the total number of arrivals has dropped by 41 percent compared to last year due to tougher migration policies adopted by Mediterranean states.
The UNHCR called on Europe to provide "safe and legal pathways" for migrants, given the alarming figures.
On June 29, the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration released a joint statement calling on the Mediterranean countries to "implement a predictable and responsible disembarkation mechanism" in order to ensure the safety of arriving migrants.
Since 2015, the European Union has been facing a dire migration crisis, with hundreds of thousands of people arriving in Europe after fleeing crises and conflicts in North Africa and the middle East. The problem is especially acute for the Mediterranean states, as they often serve as the point of first entry for those hoping to reach other EU countries. This summer, several ships carrying illegal migrants rescued at sea have had difficulty finding a port to dock at.
