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
Hezbollah condemns terrorist blasts carried out against worshippers in Pakistan.
NATO: Decision to deploy additional forces to address the current situation in Kosovo.
Al Mayadeen correspondent reports more than 50 people were injured when a bomb exploded in the Mastung area of the Pakistani province of Balochistan.
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib: The assassinations were scheduled to be carried out on Saturday with the aim of stirring up national and sectarian strifes in the country
Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib: A series of attempts to assassinate a number of Sunni scholars, judges, and IRGC officers was thwarted
Twin shootings in Rotterdam led to multiple deaths: Dutch police
Dutch Police: Rotterdam shooter arrested
US imposes fresh Sudan-related sanctions: Treasury Department
Dutch Police: Two were wounded in a shooting in the city of Rotterdam, southwest of the country, and the attacker is still at large
Russia halts nuclear fuel exports to US over lack of insurance: Rosatom

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

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Apr 2023 21:28
  • x

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.

  • 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

Dead, missing migrants in Mediterranean tripled this summer: UN

Italy approves decree facilitating migrant deportation process

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

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

Russia destroyed leopard tank in Ukraine with fully-German crew

  • Europe
  • 23 Sep 2023
Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

Blinken’s ‘Variable Geometry’ for a New Cold War

  • Analysis
  • 24 Sep 2023
BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

BBC from the front lines in Ukraine: It's bad, counteroffensive failed

  • Europe
  • 28 Sep 2023
Zelensky joins Canadian Parliament’s ovation to WWII Nazi soldier

Zelensky joins Canadian Parliament’s ovation to WWII Nazi soldier

  • US & Canada
  • 25 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
BBC to restrict top hosts' social media usage
Europe

BBC to restrict hosts' social media for chiding anti-migration remarks

Germany, 'Israel'
Europe

Germany signs 'historic' deal to acquire Israeli-made Arrow 3 system

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a media briefing at the State Department, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Washington. (AP)
Europe

'Never say never': Blinken on Biden-Putin meeting in the future

Plastic found in clouds may contaminate everything we consume
US & Canada

Microplastics in clouds cause 'plastic rainfall', infect everything

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