More than 3,000 dead on escape routes from Africa to Europe
Geneva. More than 3,000 refugees and other migrants lost their lives on the sea routes towards Europe last year.
1,924 dead or missing were reported on the routes from North Africa across the Mediterranean, 1,153 between the West African coast and the Canary Islands belonging to Spain, as reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Twice as many deaths as in the previous year
That was twice as many dead and missing as in the previous year, said a UNHCR spokeswoman in Geneva. So far this year, 478 people have died on the escape routes.
Countless people are likely to have died while fleeing their countries towards the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, said the spokeswoman. There they are at risk of exploitation, abuse, slavery and other serious human rights violations. Political instability and conflicts in people’s homelands, increasingly difficult living conditions and the consequences of climate change could lead to increased displacement and migration, UNHCR reported.
UNHCR to protect refugees
The organization will protect the refugees and other migrants along the escape routes from exploitation and people smugglers. They are asking governments for programs in 25 countries for donations of 163.5 million dollars (about 155 million euros).
UNHCR report on Mediterranean escape routes
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