Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

UN says migrant crisis marks deadliest quarter, urges swift rescue ops

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Apr 2023 21:28
3 Min Read

Delays in government agencies' search and rescue operations and the criminalization of such operations by non-governmental agencies have played a role in the increased fatality rates for 2023.

  • x
  • A view of part of the wreckage of a capsized boat that was washed ashore at a beach near Cutro, southern Italy, on Feb. 27, 2023. (AP)
    A view of part of the wreckage of a capsized boat that was washed ashore at a beach near Cutro, southern Italy, on February 27, 2023 (AP)

The most fatal quarter for central Mediterranean migrants since 2017, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM), has been the 2023 quarter which extended from January to March in which 144 lives have been lost amid increased crossings to Europe. It is also important to note that the IOM has also stated that the number of deaths in the first three months of 2023 has probably been an undercount.

The IOM noted that the delay in government agencies' search and rescue (SAR) operations has aggravated the situation and resulted in increased fatality rates among migrants from North Africa. The organization had blamed at least the death of 127 people, in six various incidents, on delays in SAR operations.

A statement by the IOM, moreover, reaffirmed that "the complete absence of response to a seventh case claimed the lives of at least 73 migrants," before adding that SAR efforts by non-governmental organizations also diminished since the start of 2023.

IOM chief Antonio Vitorino said that "the persisting humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable," adding that "with more than 20,000 deaths recorded on this route since 2014, I fear that these deaths have been normalised. States must respond."

In the first three months of this year, the number of migrants arriving in Italy has reached almost 32,000 compared with 8,000 in the same period in 2022. Over the Easter weekend alone, the IOM reported, about 3,000 migrants reached Italian shores.

In a similar vein, a statement by the Missing Migrants Project, also a UN agency, made a heartbreaking announcement that it is investigating multiple cases of migrant boats being reported missing. These boats have no record of survivors, no record of initiated SAR operations, and none of the remains were ever retrieved. These vessels remain missing, according to the organization, which highlighted that the fate of approximately 300 people also remains unclear.

Related News

France-UK migration pact faces EU review and public backlash

Venezuelan Parliament demands return of 18 children detained in US

10 Tunisian migrants drown while 20 remain missing

As the IOM published its report, the Tunisian coastguard reported that 10 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa had drowned in the Mediterranean after a boat capsized on Tuesday.

According to the Tunisian coastguard spokesperson Houssem Jebabli, "Seventy-two migrants were rescued and 10 bodies recovered after Tuesday's shipwreck" off the city of Sfax.

Read more: Italy rejects NGO ship's request for closer safe port

The spokesperson for the Tunisian court investigating the incident, Faouzi Masmoudi stated that 20 to 30 migrants continue to be listed as missing.

"Saving lives at sea is a legal obligation for states," said the IOM chief, adding, "We need to see proactive, state-led coordination in search-and-rescue efforts."

Moreover, the IOM statement stated the need for governments to not only end the "criminalization, obstruction, and deterrence" of NGO personnel that sought to enhance SAR operations but also to support these NGOs.

Read more: Over 14,000 people stopped by Tunisia from sailing to Europe

  • Migrant Crisis
  • Libya
  • International Organization for Migration
  • Tunisia
  • Italy
  • migrants
  • Mediterranean Sea
  • migrant shipwreck
  • Missing Migrants Project

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS