Over 2,000 Migrants Die or Go Missing Attempting to Reach Europe in 2024

Islamabad:Over 2,000 people lost their lives or went missing last year while attempting to reach Europe through illegal means, with hundreds of women and children among the casualties, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Regina De Domenici, UNICEF’s Special Coordinator for Europe, revealed that at least 2,200 migrants perished or disappeared in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to reach European shores. Among them, 1,700 deaths occurred in the central Mediterranean, which remains one of the deadliest migration routes.

**Recent Incident Near Italy’s Lampedusa Island**
In a recent tragic incident on the eve of the New Year, a migrant boat capsized near the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, leaving 20 people missing, including women and children. Seven survivors were rescued, including an 8-year-old child whose mother tragically lost her life in the accident.

De Domenici took to social media to share the grim news, urging governments around the world to take effective action to address the root causes of mass migration. She emphasized the importance of implementing safe and legal channels for migration, particularly for children, to ensure their protection and reunification with their families.

**Calls for International Cooperation**
De Domenici called for global governments to work together under migration and asylum agreements to establish coordinated search and rescue operations, ensure the safe transportation of migrants to shore, and provide essential services such as protection and access to asylum. These actions, she stressed, are necessary to prevent further tragedies like the one near Lampedusa.

**Why Do Migrants Risk Their Lives?**
De Domenici explained that many migrants, especially children, are forced to flee their homes due to wars, violence, and extreme poverty. She pointed out that around 20% of those attempting the perilous journey to Europe are children.

She further stressed the need for increased investment in providing essential services such as psychological and legal support, healthcare, and education for these vulnerable individuals. Governments must ensure that the rights of children are protected at every stage of their journey, she added.

**A Growing Crisis**
The ongoing refugee and migration crisis continues to claim the lives of thousands of people annually, with many migrants resorting to dangerous routes to escape conflict and hardship in their home countries. Despite international efforts to address the crisis, the number of fatalities continues to rise as people flee to Europe in search of safety and a better life.

De Domenici’s comments underscore the urgent need for international collaboration to address the root causes of migration, prevent further loss of life, and ensure the safety and dignity of all migrants, especially vulnerable children.