High death toll at sea: UNHCR calls for urgent action

More than 3,000 people died or went missing while trying to cross to Europe via the central and western Mediterranean or the Atlantic Ocean last year, according to a new report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Speech from the doors of UNHCR, Shabia Mantou, said UNHCR “is calling for urgent support to prevent deaths at sea and to protect refugees and asylum seekers who put their lives at risk during land journeys or sea crossings”.

En 2021, 1.924 personnes ont perdu la vie ou ont été portées disparues sur des itinéraires de la Méditerranée centrale et occidentale, alors que 1.153 autres ont péri ou ont été portées disparues sur l’itinédéraires duvers duvers maritime Canary Islands. And the number of dead and missing in the year 2020 AD, 1776 for the three roads. A total of 478 people have already died or gone missing at sea since the start of 2022.

Boats are often in poor condition

Most sea crossings take place in inflatable boats that are overcrowded and in poor condition, many of which have capsized or shrunk, resulting in loss of life.

According to Chabia Mantou, “Transit from coastal countries in West Africa, such as Senegal and Mauritania, and the Canary Islands, is long and fraught. It can take up to 10 days. Many boats veered off course or disappeared without a trace in this marine area.” “.

Overland routes also remain extremely dangerous, with many believed to have died en route across the Sahara and remote border areas, in detention centers or while being held by smugglers or traffickers. Among the series of abuses reported by people traveling on these routes are extrajudicial executions, unlawful and arbitrary detention, sexual and gender-based violence, forced labor, slavery, forced marriage, and other grave human rights violations.

Perilous journeys

The COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent border closures that lasted until 2021, also affected movements to North Africa and coastal European countries, with many desperate refugees and migrants turning to smugglers to facilitate these perilous journeys.

The spokesperson noted in this regard that “UNHCR warns that continued political instability and conflict, deteriorating socio-economic conditions as well as the impact of climate change could increase displacement and secondary movements to leave countries of first asylum or transit.

As part of the launch of its updated Protection and Solutions Strategy for refugees making dangerous journeys on the roads to Europe across the central and western Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean, UNHCR is seeking $163.5 million to assist and protect thousands of refugees and others.

UNHCR is appealing for support to help provide credible alternatives to these perilous journeys and prevent people from becoming victims of human traffickers. This approach calls for increased humanitarian assistance, support and solutions for people in need of international protection and survivors of massive human rights violations.

The appeal covers about 25 countries in four different regions, linked to the same land and sea routes used by migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. These are the countries of origin, departure, first asylum, transit and country of destination.

Guarantee of reliable alternatives

Meanwhile, UNHCR urges states to commit to strengthening humanitarian, development and peacemaking efforts to address protection challenges and solutions.

UNHCR is also calling on states in these regions – both in Africa and Europe – to strengthen legal frameworks and operational capacities at land and sea borders and in urban centres, and to ensure reliable alternatives to dangerous journeys through inclusion and promotion of youth and community development programmes.

At this point, Shabia Mantoo notes, “States must ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to be able to provide essential services to people who are on the move, stranded on the road, intercepted at sea or held in detention centres, and to determine if they have needs international protection.

Without it, she adds, “refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs and others will continue to make dangerous journeys in search of safety and protection. Others, including migrants, will continue to search for a better life, hoping to find work or educational opportunities elsewhere, in the absence of adequate legal avenues – temporary or long-term – for safe and orderly migration.”