The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday that 2016 had more recorded migrant deaths than any previous year.
According to preliminary figures, 363,348 migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to Europe arrived successfully while 5,079 died at sea. At least 300 more fatalities are expected to factor in as the figures do not yet reflect more recent events off Spain, Morocco and Tunisia.
The IOM suspects there are additional unreported deaths in areas between North Africa and Spain where there was less reliable data collection. The IOM expressed its dismay over the current migrant situation, expressing the need to find "creative means to permit safe, legal and secure migration." On Friday the IOM also began training rescuers in Libya to strengthen migrant lifesaving efforts.
The rights of refugee and migrant populations has emerged as one of the most significant humanitarian issues around the world. In November, experts questioned humanitarian conditions at Grecian migrant camps when a 66-year-old woman and six-year-old boy died in a camp fire. In April several aid organizations urged EU leaders to stop deportations of migrants from Greece to Turkey and to stop detaining asylum seekers.
Also in April Human Rights Watch reported that the first deportation of 66 people from the Greek island of Chios to Turkey was "riddled with an array of irregularities." In April UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged world leaders to accept more refugees and to combat the growing international anti-refugee sentiments.
That same month, an independent UN human rights expert encouraged EU leaders to remain steadfast in their obligations to handle the recent influx of migrants to the EU.
SOURCE: Jurist
