More than 3,000 migrants have died at sea while trying to reach the European continent in 2021, more than double the number recorded the previous year, the UN said on Friday.
“In total, 1,924 were reported killed or missing on central and western Mediterranean routes, while 1,153 were reported killed or missing on the sea route from northwest Africa to the Canary Islands,” High Commissioner Spokesperson Shabia Mantoo said. United Nations for Refugees (UNHCR).
1,544 deaths were recorded on both routes in 2020.
“It is worrying that 478 more people have died or disappeared at sea since the start of the year,” Mantoo said.
According to UNHCR, many refugees and migrants turn to human traffickers to try to reach Europe, while the COVID-19 outbreak and border closures have had an impact on migrant flows.
Most sea crossings are by inflatables, which are overcrowded and neglected. Many ships go out or capsize, resulting in the deaths of passengers.
“Sea travel from coastal West African countries such as Senegal and Mauritania to the Canary Islands is long and dangerous and can take up to 10 days,” said a UNHCR spokesperson in Geneva. Said.
“Many ships drifted or disappeared without a trace,” he added.
source: Noticias
