The first quarter of 2023, between January and March, was the deadliest for migrants crossing the Mediterranean since 2017 with 441 lives lost trying to reach Europe, the UN said on Wednesday (April 12). The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) has estimated that this figure is below reality.
“With over 20,000 deaths recorded on this road since 2014, I fear these deaths have been normalized”warned the IOM, adding that “delays and shortcomings in state-led search and rescue operations are costing lives”. “During the Easter weekend, 3,000 migrants reached Italy, bringing the total number of arrivals since the beginning of the year to 31,192 people.”
Delays in search and rescue (SAR) operations have been a driving factor in at least six incidents so far this year, killing at least 127 people out of 441 others, the IOM said. .
An “intolerable” crisis
“The complete lack of response during a seventh rescue operation has claimed the lives of at least 73 migrants” still included in that same tally, IOM said, adding that search and rescue efforts by non-governmental organizations have declined markedly in recent months.
“The persistent humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable”, said the head of the IOM, Antonio Vitorino. The project “Missing Migrants” of the United Nations agency is also investigating several cases of missing boats, where there is no trace of survivors, debris and where no search and rescue operations have been carried out.
300 people still missing
Some 300 people on board these boats are still missing, the organization said. “Saving lives at sea is a legal obligation for States”stressed Antonio Vitorino.
“We need proactive coordination from States in search and rescue efforts. Guided by the spirit of responsibility sharing and solidarity, we call on States to work together and strive to reduce the loss of life along the migration routes”he added.