UN: Over 2.5K Migrants Lost to the Mediterranean in 2023

Facts

• On Thursday, the UN's refugee agency said that more than 2.5K people had died or gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean between Jan. 1 and Sept. 24.¹
• The number of dead and missing migrants in the Mediterranean in the same period last year was 1,680.²
• Meanwhile, according to International Office for Migration data, more than 187K migrants had arrived in European countries 'in pursuit of a better future.'³
• Of those who arrived by sea in southern Europe, 130K landed in Italy — an increase of 83% over last year's numbers. Tunisia was the departure point for 102K migrants crossing the Mediterranean.⁴
• At the same time, the UN claimed authorities and maritime humanitarian organizations rescued or intercepted approximately 31K people at sea.⁵
• The UN High Commissioner for Refugees also noted that the number of lives lost at sea and on land routes to Europe will continue to rise, as it appears there's 'no end in sight' for this humanitarian crisis.¹

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Voa, ³Associated Press, ⁴Dw.com and ⁵The business standard.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by Ecre. Southern Europe is currently in the midst of a full-blown refugee crisis. The irregular border crossings into the EU across the Mediterranean have quadrupled in the first quarter of 2023 compared to last year. What are the authorities doing? Malta doesn't respond to distress calls, and Italy is pushing back boats to Libya. It's a deliberate hands-off policy that sees innocent people drown. This perpetual cycle of abuse must end.
• Right narrative, as provided by Daily Mail. The refugee and migration problem in the Mediterranean has exposed a solidarity crisis in the EU. There's no mechanism in place to share the responsibility for hosting migrants. Consequently, the countries on the southern border are overburdened by the continual influx of migrants and forced to argue with the other nations in the north over which of them should host asylum seekers who reach Europe's shores. Italy and other southern countries can only rescue so many.