The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that approximately 186,000 people have already reached Europe via the Mediterranean Sea this year. Roven Minikdiwela, the director of the UNHCR’s office in New York, presented these figures to the UN Security Council on Thursday. She highlighted a significant surge in Italy, which registered nearly 130,000 arrivals—an 83% increase compared to the same period last year.
Furthermore, Minikdiwela stated that over 2,500 individuals have been reported missing or have died since the beginning of the year until September 24th. This is slightly below the International Organization for Migration’s recent figure, which cited more than 2,700 fatalities and missing persons.
The UNHCR representative also pointed out that over 102,000 people attempted to cross the Mediterranean from Tunisia, marking a staggering 260% rise from the previous year. Additionally, more than 45,000 tried to make the perilous journey from Libya.
Besides Italy, boats have also been landing in Greece, Spain, Cyprus, and Malta. The recent sharp increase in migrant numbers has led to escalating tensions within the European Union over measures to curtail the influx.
The Mediterranean migration route has long been one of the most dangerous for refugees and migrants heading to Europe, primarily from Africa and the Middle East. Factors pushing people to embark on these perilous journeys include conflict, persecution, and economic hardship in their home countries. The EU has been grappling with this crisis for years, attempting to strike a balance between humanitarian responsibilities and security concerns, with member states often divided on the best approach to take.
This crisis has prompted intense debate on issues like border security, responsibility sharing, and the integration of new arrivals.
