Over 72,000 Dead or Missing on Migration Routes

The United Nations announced that more than 72,000 people have died or gone missing on global migration routes over the past decade, with the majority coming from countries experiencing conflict or crisis.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 2023 marked the deadliest year on record for migrants, with at least 8,938 confirmed deaths. The findings highlight the extreme risks faced by individuals forced to leave their home countries due to insecurity, poverty, or humanitarian emergencies.

The report reveals that over half of these deaths and disappearances occurred in or originated from regions suffering from violent unrest or natural disasters.

Migrants from countries with ongoing humanitarian crises, including Afghanistan and Syria, were among the most affected.

More than 52,000 people died while attempting to flee from one of the 40 countries where the UN has launched a crisis response or humanitarian plan. These figures illustrate the severe consequences of unsafe migration and the desperate circumstances driving people to undertake dangerous journeys.

The IOM is urging the international community to invest in stabilizing fragile regions and creating local opportunities so migration becomes a choice rather than a necessity.

It also emphasizes the need for safe, legal, and organized migration pathways to reduce the risks faced by vulnerable populations.