Brussels-New York: Europe and the Arabs
Three UN agencies have called on countries bordering the Mediterranean to increase resources and capacities to fulfill their responsibilities, and stressed the need to establish coordinated search and rescue mechanisms in the wake of the fatal boat sinking off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa. According to the United Nations news bulletin, of which we received a copy on Friday morning
In a joint statement, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF expressed their deepest condolences for the loss of dozens of lives as a result of the boat sinking late last week.
The agencies renewed their call for expanding access to safe and regular migration and asylum pathways in the European Union, in order to prevent people from taking dangerous journeys in search of safety and protection.
The latest developments
An unaccompanied 13-year-old boy, a woman and two men were rescued by a merchant ship and were taken today to Lampedusa by the Italian Coast Guard. According to testimonies of survivors, 41 people are still missing, including three children.
IOM, UNHCR and UNICEF have confirmed that they are in Lampedusa to support the authorities at the initial disembarkation and reception phases, to ensure that people seeking international protection can apply for it, and to ensure that people with specific needs are identified promptly.
The death toll is increasing
This tragic incident adds to the increasing number of victims as a result of boat sinkings on the central Mediterranean line.
According to the International Organization for Migration's Missing Migrants Project, more than 1,800 people have been reported killed or missing on this route so far in 2023.
The route has seen more than 75 percent of casualties in the entire Mediterranean region over the past ten years, making it one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world.
"complete disregard for lives"
The boat carrying migrants and refugees set off from Sfax, Tunisia, but the voyage was interrupted by rough seas before reaching safety.
The UN agencies said in their statement issued on Thursday that the hazardous weather conditions make boat crossings particularly perilous.
She stressed that such tragedies also highlight smugglers' complete disregard for the lives of migrants and refugees who make these journeys, noting that just a few days ago, a pregnant mother and her child lost their lives off the island of Lampedusa.