According to a recent report published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), almost 3,000 migrants and asylum seekers died attempting treacherous boat crossings to Europe so far this year. For COMECE, “migrants and refugees should be protected at all stages of their journey.”
Migrants on a boat in the Mediterranean Sea. (Photo: Gene Isenko/Shutterstock)
Despite the EU efforts to address the challenges of the migration crisis on the basis of its European Agenda, migrants and refugees keep dying during their journey to Europe.
Data from the recently published IOM’s report “Missing Migrants, tracking deaths along migratory routes” indicate that the death rate among migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to enter Europe in 2017 decreased from the previous year (4,700) but remains high. Any death is still inacceptable.
The new figures prompted calls for the international community to stop turning a blind eye to the unfolding drama. Pope Francis, in his address to the participants of (Re)Thinking Europe Dialogue, stated that “when faced with the tragedy of displaced persons and refugees, we must not forget that we are dealing with persons, who cannot be welcomed or rejected at our own pleasure, or in accordance with political, economic or even religious ideas”.
Recently, COMECE contributed to the European Commission’s public consultation on legal migration of non-EU citizens and, together with other Christian organisations, supports the protection of migrants and refugees at all stages of their journey, fighting against trafficking in human beings and addressing the root causes of forced migration.