http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-07-24/news/800-people-died-in-the-mediterranean-this-year-unhcr-5956534272/
800 people died in the Mediterranean this year - UNHCR
Thursday, 24 July 2014, 14:29
More than 260 people have died or been reported missing as they attempted
to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards Europe over the past ten days, the
UNHCR said today.
The UN's refugee agency said survivors reported disturbing incidents of
mass drownings, suffocations and a suspected multiple stabbing. The grim
tally brings to some 800 the total number of deaths at sea this year,
compared to a total 600 deaths in 2013, and 500 in 2012.
The tragedies mark an intensifying crisis on Europe's shores, as many
fleeing Eritrea, Syria and other countries torn by violence seek safety in
Europe by risking their lives at sea in the hand of smugglers. A rapid rise
in incidents over recent weeks has prompted calls for urgent measures by
European countries to develop a comprehensive plan to prevent such
tragedies.
More than 75,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Italy, Greece, Spain and
Malta by sea in the first half of 2014 - 25 % more than the 60,000 who made
the same journey in the whole of 2013, and over three times the 22,500 who
arrived in all of 2012.
Italy received the greatest number of arrivals (63,884), followed by Greece
(10,080), Spain (1,000) and Malta (227). A further 21,000 refugees and
migrants have arrived in Italy since 1 July. The largest numbers came from
Eritrea, Syria and Mali. Most left from North Africa, and principally Libya.
This included 10,563 children, 3,676 from Syria, who arrived in Italy in
the first six months of 2014. 6,500 of the children, mostly Eritreans, were
unaccompanied or separated from their families.
Over the weekend of 19-20 July alone, Italian and Maltese authorities,
together with several commercial vessels, rescued 8,000 people.
António Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, praised both
countries for their efforts, but said European states needed to step up
their assistance.
"The death of 260 people in less than ten days, in the most horrifying of
circumstances, is evidence that the Mediterranean crisis is intensifying,"
Mr Guterres said. "Europeans need to take urgent action to stop this
catastrophe getting worse in the second half of 2014."
Mr Guterres called on governments to strengthen rescue operations, provide
swift access to asylum procedures for those in need of protection, and
legal alternatives to dangerous sea crossings.
Rescued refugees and migrants have reported handing over their life savings
to smugglers, in order to travel in unseaworthy and overcrowded dinghies,
packed into a few metres of space without food, water or life jackets.
The journey can take between one to four days, depending on the weather,
sea and boat conditions. In several incidents, people were stranded for
more than two weeks before being rescued.
On 14 July, Italian authorities rescued 12 people 40 miles off the coast of
Libya. Survivors said their rubber dinghy had been carrying 121 people.
Passengers panicked when it started to deflate on one side, and it
capsized. A total of 109 people are missing; with one man saying he lost
his pregnant wife during the incident.
On 15 July, 29 people were found dead from apparent asphyxiation in the
hold of a fishing boat, and details are emerging of a horrifying incident
in which as many as 60 people were stabbed and thrown overboard as they
sought to escape from the hold. A total of 131 people are missing and
presumed dead from the incident, including a newborn baby. Italian police
are reported to have arrested five men on Tuesday in connection with the
incident.
UNHCR welcomes all efforts by European authorities, particularly in Italy,
to rescue boats in distress in the Mediterranean, and calls on all states
to continue to fulfil their obligations under international refugee law and
the law of the sea. UNHCR recognizes the great support of shipmasters in
the Mediterranean in carrying out rescue operations and asks them to remain
vigilant and to continue to discharge their duty of rescuing vessels in
distress
It also urges European countries to provide additional and better
facilities to receive those rescued, and to identify longer-term solutions
for refugees, including resettlement, admission based on humanitarian
needs, admission schemes based on private sponsorship, facilitated access
to family reunification and the use of programmes such as student or
employment visas.
Received on Fri Jul 25 2014 - 09:49:26 EDT