UN Agencies Urge Action to Prevent Migrant Deaths in Mediterranean and Sahara

UN agencies are urging the Security Council to take immediate action to prevent the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea from becoming “mass graves for migrants.” Highlighting a record number of migrant deaths in 2023, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) emphasized the urgent need for improved protection and humanitarian assistance for those fleeing conflict and hardship.

On September 30, two UN agencies called on the Security Council to take immediate action to prevent the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea from becoming “mass graves for migrants.” The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) highlighted the alarming rise in migrant deaths, with 2023 recording the highest number of fatalities since 2014.

Pär Liljert, director of the IOM Office to the UN, reported that 8,542 migrant deaths were documented globally in 2023, with 37% occurring in the Mediterranean. Sivanka Dhanapala, head of UNHCR’s New York office, echoed these concerns, noting that over 350,000 refugees and asylum-seekers have been registered this year, primarily from Sudan, with many seeking protection in North Africa.

Despite a 24% decrease in the number of refugees and migrants departing by sea from North and West Africa, significant challenges remain. Dhanapala emphasized the lack of access to protection and the increasing dangers faced by migrants, including violence, trafficking, and robbery. A joint report from UNHCR, IOM, and the Mixed Migration Centre revealed critical gaps in humanitarian assistance along migration routes.

To combat this crisis, the agencies proposed several recommendations, including upholding human rights safeguards, enhancing search-and-rescue operations, and prosecuting smugglers. Liljert identified economic hardship, conflict, and personal violence as primary drivers of migration, with climate change further exacerbating these issues.

The situation in Libya remains dire, as nearly 70% of migrants interviewed cited high food prices as a major concern. The international community must adopt a holistic approach to address the root causes of irregular migration and ensure that the Mediterranean and Sahara do not continue to claim lives, the UN officials urged.