New York - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The International Organization for Migration reported that nearly 3,800 people died on migratory routes within and from the Middle East and North Africa region last year, the highest toll recorded since 2017. According to the United Nations Bulletin, of which we received a copy this morning.
The organization stated, in a press release, that this is the outcome reported by the Missing Migrants Project of the International Organization for Migration.
More than half of the total deaths recorded globally by the project, amounting to 6,877, occurred in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Most of the road deaths in the region last year occurred in Yemen, where violence against migrants has escalated, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The press release stated that among the 867 deaths recorded at the Horn of Africa crossing to Yemen, at least 795 people lost their lives - believed to be the majority of them Ethiopians - on the road between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, especially in the Yemeni governorate of Saada on the northern border.
“This alarming number of deaths on migratory routes requires immediate attention and concerted efforts to enhance the safety and protection of migrants,” said Othman Belbeisi, IOM Regional Director. “IOM urges increased international and regional cooperation as well as resources to address this humanitarian crisis and prevent further loss of life.” In line with Goal 8 of the Global Compact on Migration.
Goal 8 of the Global Compact focuses on "saving lives and establishing coordinated international efforts on missing migrants". It aims to prevent migrant deaths, address challenges related to missing migrants, and provide support to affected families.
The organization reported 203 deaths on road routes in North Africa, particularly during the perilous crossing of the Sahara Desert.
Libya recorded the highest number of deaths on these roads, with 117 deaths recorded, followed by Algeria (54), Morocco (13), Tunisia (10) and Egypt (9).
The actual number may be much higher than reported, due to the scarcity of official data and limited access to land routes by civil society and international organizations.
And on sea routes from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe during 2022, an increasing number of fatal accidents occurred after boats departed from Lebanon bound for Greece and Italy.
At least 174 deaths were recorded, nearly half of the total number of fatalities on the eastern Mediterranean route last year.