The United Nations has revealed a shocking toll of migration-related deaths across the globe, stating that more than 72,000 people have died or gone missing since 2014 while attempting to cross migration routes, most of them in countries plagued by violent conflicts or disasters.
In a report released on Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that more than half of the victims perished in countries such as Libya, Iran, and Myanmar, where conflicts and disasters pose severe challenges to migrants and increase the risks of their journeys.
The report, published to mark the tenth anniversary of the Missing Migrants Project, documented over 63,000 deaths and disappearances in the past decade, though it noted the actual number is likely much higher. The year 2023 recorded the highest annual death toll since the project began, with over 8,500 fatalities.
The report indicated that drowning is the leading cause of death, accounting for around 60 percent of cases, with more than 27,000 deaths recorded in the Mediterranean Sea alone. It also noted that about 5,500 women and 3,500 children have been identified among the victims, while the identities of more than two-thirds of the deceased remain unknown, compounding the suffering of families searching for answers.
Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General of the IOM, emphasized that these alarming figures call for urgent international action, calling enhanced search and rescue capabilities, the provision of safe migration pathways, and stronger efforts to combat smuggling and human trafficking networks.
The report highlighted that data collected through the Missing Migrants Project is used as a key indicator in measuring progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to safe migration, adding that the IOM’s new strategic plan (2024–2028) prioritizes “saving lives” and calls on governments and international partners to join efforts to stop this ongoing human tragedy.
