The United Nations said on Wednesday (April 12) that the first quarter of 2023 was the deadliest for migrants crossing the Mediterranean since 2017 with 441 people missing while trying to reach Europe.
The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) has estimated that this figure of 441 deaths is an underestimate.
sequel after announcement
“With more than 20,000 deaths recorded on this road since 2014, I fear that these deaths will be normalized.”warned, adding that Delays and shortcomings in state-led search and rescue operations are costing lives..
Immigrants, those “undesirables” whose lives matter less
“During the Easter holidays, 3,000 migrants arrived in Italy, bringing the total number of arrivals since the beginning of the year to 31,192 people.”The International Organization for Migration said that about eight thousand during the same period in 2022.
The UN agency said that delays in search and rescue operations were a major factor in at least six incidents since the beginning of the year, which resulted in the deaths of at least 127 people out of 441 others.
The complete absence of response during the seventh rescue operation claimed the lives of at least 73 migrants. Still included in the same number, the International Organization for Migration said in a statement, adding that search and rescue efforts by non-governmental organizations had declined significantly in recent months.
sequel after announcement
State of emergency for six months in Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took office in October promising to end mass immigration, declared a six-month state of emergency on immigration on Tuesday night, at an additional cost of five million euros to address the issue.
According to Georgia Meloni, this will allow “more effective and faster response” with the arrival of immigrants.
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But according to its critics, the measure, generally used for natural disasters, masks the lack of a clear strategy on the migration crisis.
For its part, the European border control agency, Frontex, estimated that the number of illegal border crossings in the central Mediterranean reached nearly 28,000, also in the first quarter of 2023, three times what it was during the same period of 2023. 2022. The migrants who use this route most often come from Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Pakistan.
sequel after announcement
“The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable”said the head of the International Organization for Migration, Antonio Vitorino.
300 people are missing
The project Missing immigrants The UN agency is also investigating several cases of missing boats, where there are no traces of survivors and wreckage and where no search and rescue operations have taken place.
The organization said that about 300 people on board these boats are still missing.
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“Saving lives at sea is a legal obligation of states”Antonio Vitorino confirmed.
We need proactive coordination from countries in search and rescue efforts. Guided by the spirit of shared responsibility and solidarity, we call on countries to work together and strive to reduce the loss of life along migration routes.”he added.
