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Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

UN: 3,000+ migrants died in sea trying to reach Europe in 2021

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 Apr 2022 21:46
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The UNHCR warns against the surging death of refugees trying to reach Europe through sea and land routes and launches an appeal to help provide protection and solutions for refugees.

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  • Last year, a total of 3,077 people were lost while trying to cross the Mediterranean and Atlantic routes to Europe
    Last year, a total of 3,077 people were lost while trying to cross the Mediterranean and Atlantic routes to Europe.

More than 3,000 people died in the Mediterranean and Atlantic while trying to reach Europe last year - double the toll from 2020, the United Nations announced on Friday.

A fresh report from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) demanded urgent action to combat surging deaths among refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants trying to reach Europe.

Last year, a total of 3,077 people were lost while trying to cross the Mediterranean and Atlantic routes to the continent, compared to 1,544 in 2020, the report showed.

UNHCR Spokesperson Shabia Mantoo told reporters in Geneva that "alarmingly, since the beginning of the year, an additional 478 people have also died or gone missing at sea."

The report showed that in 2021, 1,924 people were reported dead or missing on the Central and Western Mediterranean routes, while another 1,153 perished on the North African maritime route to the Canary Islands.

Mantoo pointed out that "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."

She indicated that "many boats drifted off course or otherwise went missing without trace in these waters," adding that the crossing could take up to 10 days.

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17,000+ dead or missing along Central Mediterranean route

The increase in deaths at sea came amid a surge in the number of crossings. The UNHCR report showed that 53,323 migrants arrived by boat in Italy last year - an 83% hike over 2020.

In addition, 23,042 arrived in the Canary Islands, nearly the same number as a year earlier, the report mentioned.

The report also noted a 61% increase in departures from Tunisia compared to 2020, while departures from Libya increased by 150%. They took the Central Mediterranean route, which is the world's deadliest. 

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 17,000 people have died or gone missing along this route since 2014.

"A myriad of abuses" along these routes

The UNHCR cautioned that land routes were also "highly dangerous".

"Even greater numbers may have died on journeys through the Sahara desert and remote border areas, in detention centres, or while in the captivity of smugglers or traffickers," Mantoo highlighted.

Migrants along all of these routes face a "litany of abuses," she indicated, pointing to "extrajudicial killings, unlawful and arbitrary detention, sexual and gender-based violence, forced labour, slavery (and) forced marriage."

Alongside the release of its report, the UN refugee agency launched an appeal for $163.5 million to help provide protection and solutions for refugees and others traveling along the dangerous routes to Europe. 

"UNHCR is appealing for support to help provide meaningful alternatives to these dangerous journeys and prevent people from becoming victims of traffickers," Mantoo confirmed.

  • Europe
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  • Tunisia
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  • UNHCR
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