A total of 441 migrants died in the central Mediterranean in the first quarter of 2023, the highest number of deaths recorded since 2017, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealed today.
According to data from the Missing Migrants Project, from the IOM, the increase in the number of deaths in the central Mediterranean happens when there are reports of delays in the responses of rescues led by the countries and also by the obstacles placed to the operations carried out by search and rescue ships (SAR , acronym in English) of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the central Mediterranean.
The IOM has referred that the central Mediterranean route is the most dangerous in the world.
“The persistence of the humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable,” said IOM Director General António Vitorino, quoted in a note.
“With more than 20,000 deaths recorded on this route since 2014, I fear that these deaths are normalizing. States must respond. Delays and gaps in state-led search and rescue are costing human lives,” Vitorino said.
Delays in state-led rescues on the Central Mediterranean route were one of the factors responsible for at least six incidents this year, leading to the deaths of at least 127 people.
The complete lack of response to a seventh case led to the death of at least 73 migrants, according to the IOM.
Recently, search and rescue efforts led by NGOs have slowed down considerably, the organization said.
On March 25, the Libyan Coast Guard fired shots into the air as the Ocean Viking NGO rescue ship responded to a call for help from a vessel in distress.
Later, on March 26, the humanitarian ship Louise Michel – financed by the artist Banksy – was detained in Italy after rescuing 180 people at sea, repeating the case of the ship Geo Barents – from the NGO Doctors Without Borders – which was seized in February and later released.
Over the Easter weekend, 3,000 migrants arrived in Italy, bringing the total number of arrivals to 31,192 this year.
“Saving lives at sea is a legal obligation of the States,” said Vitorino.
“We need to have proactive, state-led coordination of search and rescue efforts. Guided by the spirit of shared responsibility and solidarity, we call on States to work together to reduce the loss of life on migration routes”, appealed the Director General of IOM.
According to the organization, the total number of 441 deaths documented in the Central Mediterranean in the first three months of this year must be underestimated.
The Missing Migrants Project is investigating several reports of “invisible” shipwrecks – cases where vessels are reported missing, but there are no records of survivors, remains or SAR operations. The fate of more than 300 people aboard these boats remains uncertain.
The IOM has stated that the worrying situation in the central Mediterranean should encourage States to take the lead in search and rescue operations for people in danger. Countries must also support NGOs working to rescue migrants on this route, as well as end criminalization, obstruction and deterrence of the efforts of those providing such assistance.
All maritime vessels, including commercial ships, have a legal obligation to provide assistance to ships in distress.
The IOM also calls for more concerted action to dismantle criminal trafficking networks and prosecute those responsible for profiting from the desperation of migrants and refugees by facilitating dangerous journeys.
