A report released today by the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Missing Migrants Project highlights a significant increase in the number of migrants who lost their lives or went missing during migration journeys in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2023, rising to 4,984 compared to 3,820 in 2022.
Osman Al-Bilbeisi, IOM’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced cooperation in search and rescue operations, both at sea and along desert routes, to prevent further loss of life. He stressed the importance of providing comprehensive support to the families of missing migrants.
The report’s key findings indicate that the MENA region has become a crucial transit area for migrants. In 2023, more than 215,508 migrants reached Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, according to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix. During these attempts, over 3,155 migrants perished, including 1,878 who died off the coasts of MENA countries.
These figures likely do not reflect the true scale of the crisis, as many deaths and disappearances go unreported or unnoticed.
The report also highlighted the particular vulnerability of migrant children, who require special protection against the numerous risks they face during their journeys. Since 2014, 3,372 migrant children worldwide have lost their lives, including 913 in the MENA region, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen protective measures and international cooperation to prevent the loss of young lives.
