President: Giampaolo Pioli    |    Editor in Chief: Stefano Vaccara
English Editor: Grace Russo Bullaro 

  • Login
VNY La Voce di New York

The First Italian English Digital Daily Newspaper in the US

  • English Edition
  • Letters
  • New York
  • U.N.
  • News
  • People
  • Arts
  • Lifestyles
  • Food & Wine
  • Travel
  • Italian Edition
No Result
View All Result
VNY
  • English Edition
  • Letters
  • New York
  • U.N.
  • News
  • People
  • Arts
  • Lifestyles
  • Food & Wine
  • Travel
  • Italian Edition
No Result
View All Result
VNY La Voce di New York
No Result
View All Result
in
English
April 30, 2022
in
English
April 30, 2022
0

Deaths at Sea on Migrant Routes to Europe Almost Doubled, Year on Year

UNHCR calls for assistance: Most of the sea crossings took place in packed, unseaworthy, inflatable boats – many of which capsized or were deflated

Un News CentrebyUn News Centre
Deaths at Sea on Migrant Routes to Europe Almost Doubled, Year on Year

© IOM 2020/Alexander Bee. The crimes of trafficking and aggravated smuggling of persons are of great concern to UNHCR.

Time: 4 mins read

More than 3,000 people died or went missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean and the Atlantic last year, hoping to reach Europe, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday, appealing for $163.5 million to assist and protect thousands of refugees and asylum seekers.

Of the 2021 total, 1,924 people were reported to have died or gone missing on the Central and Western Mediterranean routes, while an additional 1,153 perished or went missing on the Northwest African maritime route to the Canary Islands, according to UNHCR’s newly published 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.

“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 told journalists at a regular press briefing in Geneva.

Dangerous crossings

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 trace in these waters,” she said.

Land routes also continue to be highly dangerous, where even greater numbers 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 traveling these routes.

Other challenges

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,” Ms. Mantoo warned.

Plea for help

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, UNHCR is appealing for support in providing meaningful alternatives to these dangerous journeys and prevent 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.

Much-needed actions

To address protection and solution challenges, UNHCR is also urging States to strengthen humanitarian, development, and peace action.

Additionally, it is calling on regional States in both Africa and Europe to enhance legal frameworks and operational capacities at land and sea borders and in urban centres while also guaranteeing inclusion, youth programming and local community-based development as credible alternatives to dangerous journeys.

“States must ensure unimpeded humanitarian access for the delivery of essential services to people on the move or stranded en route, intercepted at sea, or held in detention centres, and to determine whether they have international protection needs,” the UNHCR spokesperson said.

Treacherous alternative

If these important measures are not carried out, refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and others will continue to move onwards in dangerous journeys in search of safety and protection.

Other people, including migrants, will move in search of a better life, hoping to find work or educational opportunities elsewhere in the absence of sufficient seasonal or longer-term legal pathways for safe and orderly migration.

Risk Mitigation Strategy and 2022 Appeal.
Source: UNHCR Risk Mitigation Strategy and 2022 Appeal.
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Un News Centre

Un News Centre

DELLO STESSO AUTORE

Uber Partners with UN World Food Programme to Deliver Aid in Ukraine

Uber Partners with UN World Food Programme to Deliver Aid in Ukraine

byUn News Centre
Video Games for Climate Action: Winning Solutions for the Planet

Video Games for Climate Action: Winning Solutions for the Planet

byUn News Centre

A PROPOSITO DI...

Tags: Human TraffickingIllegal ImmigrationMediterraneanMigrant routesMigrationUNHCR
Previous Post

Sleepwalking Into the Unknown: A Fatal Optimism on the War in Ukraine

Next Post

“Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy” torna su CNN con la seconda stagione

Discussion about this post

DELLO STESSO AUTORE

Haiti: Armed Violence Reaches “Unimaginable and Intolerable Levels”

Haiti: Armed Violence Reaches “Unimaginable and Intolerable Levels”

byUn News Centre
Israel: UN Rights Chief Calls for End to “Culture of Impunity”

Israel: UN Rights Chief Calls for End to “Culture of Impunity”

byUn News Centre

Latest News

Piero Angela: figlio Alberto lo ricorda in Campidoglio

Piero Angela: figlio Alberto lo ricorda in Campidoglio

byAnsa
Il PD in Europa candida Crisanti: “Essere nella lista estero ha un valore simbolico”

Il PD in Europa candida Crisanti: “Essere nella lista estero ha un valore simbolico”

byLa Voce di New York

New York

Non pagano la corsa e pestano a morte il taxista: sgomento nel Queens

Non pagano la corsa e pestano a morte il taxista: sgomento nel Queens

byPaolo Cordova
Il Milan inizia con una vittoria: con questi giocatori è lecito sognare

Il Milan inizia con una vittoria: con questi giocatori è lecito sognare

byPaolo Capoferri

Italiany

Torna in Sardegna il festival “MusaMadre”: richiamo della cultura e delle radici

Torna in Sardegna il festival “MusaMadre”: richiamo della cultura e delle radici

byManuela Caracciolo
“Senato&Cultura”: premiati gli imprenditori che rendono grande l’Italia nel mondo

“Senato&Cultura”: premiati gli imprenditori che rendono grande l’Italia nel mondo

byNicola Corradi
Next Post
Stanley Tucci cerca l’Italia e trova quella vera dai sapori genuini

"Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy" torna su CNN con la seconda stagione

La Voce di New York

President: Giampaolo Pioli   |   Editor in Chief: Stefano Vaccara   |   English Editor: Grace Russo Bullaro

  • New York
    • Eventi
  • Onu
  • News
    • Primo Piano
    • Politica
    • Voto Estero
    • Economia
    • First Amendment
  • People
    • Expat
  • Arts
    • Arte e Design
    • Spettacolo
    • Musica
    • Libri
    • Lingua Italiana
  • Lifestyles
    • Fashion
    • Scienza e Salute
    • Sport
    • Religioni
  • Food & Wine
  • Travel
    • Italia
  • Mediterraneo
  • English
  • Search/Archive
  • About us
    • Editorial Staff
    • President
    • Administration
    • Advertising

VNY Media La Voce di New York © 2016 - 2022
Main Office: 230 Park Avenue, 21floor, New York, NY 10169 | Editorial Office/Redazione: UN Secretariat Building, International Press Corps S-301, New York, NY 10017

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • New York
  • Onu
  • News
    • Primo Piano
    • Politica
    • Economia
    • First Amendment
  • Arts
    • Arte e Design
    • Spettacolo
    • Musica
    • Libri
  • Lingua Italiana
  • Lifestyles
    • Fashion
    • Scienza e Salute
    • Sport
    • Religioni
  • Food & Wine
    • Cucina Italiana
  • Travel
    • Italia
  • English

© 2016/2022 VNY Media La Voce di New York

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In