Southern Europe Sees Surge in Migrant Arrivals: UN Report
Around 186,000 migrants and refugees have reached Southern Europe in 2023, according to the United Nations (UN). The majority of them have arrived in Italy. This marks a significant increase from the 2022 count, which saw 1,680 fatalities or disappearances among those attempting to reach Southern Europe.
Between January and September 24th, over 2,500 individuals, attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing, have been found dead or remain missing. This figure has risen dramatically from the 1,680 reported for the same period in 2022.
A Rise in Arrivals
Roughly 102,000 refugees and migrants from Tunisia, a 260% increase from the previous year, and over 45,000 from Libya attempted the journey to Europe between January and August. Of those, 31,000 were rescued and disembarked in Tunisia, while 10,600 landed in Libya.
The majority of migrants and refugees reaching Southern Europe, over 130,000 of them, have arrived in Italy. This represents an 83% increase compared to the same period in 2022, with others landing in Greece, Spain, Cyprus, and Malta.
Causes of High Departure Rates
Ruven Menikdiwela, director of the New York office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), explained that the high departure rates from Tunisia are linked to the perception of insecurity among refugee communities. This is due to racially motivated attacks, hate speech incidents, and collective expulsions from Libya and Algeria.
The UNHCR faces restrictions in Libya, where it has registered 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers. The conditions in both official and unofficial detention facilities remain a grave concern.
Worsening Conditions in the Mediterranean Crossing
Par Liljert, director of the International Office for Migration’s office to the United Nations, highlighted the dire conditions facing migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean. He reported that over 187,000 individuals have crossed the Mediterranean in search of a better future and safety from January to September 2023. Tragically, during this same period, 2,778 deaths were recorded, with 2,093 of them occurring along the treacherous central Mediterranean route, which is the most dangerous.
Despite its clear dangers, there has been an increase in arrivals in Greece along this route, over 300% more than last year, and a steady number of arrivals in Spain, primarily through the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands. Italy has also seen a significant increase in arrivals, with 130,000 so far this year, compared to around 70,000 in 2022.