Saturday, November 25, 2017

Migrants risk increased danger

More than 33,000 people have died attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean since 2000, according to a UN study. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the Mediterranean Sea remains "by far the world's deadliest border."

Although the number of deaths has dropped since record arrivals on European soil from 2014 to 2016, the risk of death during the journey has risen significantly, according to the report.

controversial migrant deal with Turkey and naval blockades by Libya's coastguard have made the journey across the Mediterranean more dangerous as it shifted the route towards the longer central route to Italy, said Philippe Fargues, one of the UN report's authors and professor at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. "Shutting the shorter and less dangerous routes can open longer and more dangerous routes, thus increasing the likelihood of dying at sea," said Fargues.

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