On the brink of a humanitarian crisis and in the pursuit of social justice and human rights for undocumented refugees & migrants, Greek Forum of Refugees proudly stands in solidarity with PICUM (Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants). As a valuable member of this dedicated network, we bring your attention to their latest newsletter addressing the escalating tragedies faced by refugees and migrants attempting to access the Asylum system and international protection in Europe.
PICUM’s commitment to shedding light on the stark realities faced by undocumented migrants is commendable, and we express our gratitude for their tireless advocacy.
Particularly, the newsletter states that the latest report on migrant deaths in Europe by the International Organisation for Migration estimates that at least 3.863 people died trying to cross into Europe in 2023 – marking a new deadly record since 2015.
At least 2.797 people died in the Mediterranean, 914 in the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands, and 152 in the rest of EU borders.
These latest figures, based on interviews with survivors and victims’ relatives, bring the total number of deaths to 28,000 since 2014, when the IOM records began. However, experts consider that the actual death toll in this time period is much higher, with many deaths going unrecorded due to the difficulty of documenting shipwrecks and the fact that most bodies are never found.
These deaths are not accidents. They are the predictable and expected effect of hostile migration policies that restrict search and rescue operations at sea, and force people to take dangerous journeys because no viable regular options are made available.
Last December, the European Commission proposed a revision of the EU’s legislation criminalizing the facilitation of entry, transit or stay. The new proposal fails to introduce a clear and binding exception for humanitarian assistance by NGOs, family members or migrants themselves. Considering the persistent lack of regular routes for many people to move to Europe safely, we can only expect deadly trends to continue.
You can find and learn more at PICUM’s newsletter HERE
