Since the beginning of this year, more than 2,500 migrants have either lost their lives or gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe, according to a statement by a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) official on Thursday.
Speaking during a Security Council meeting dedicated to the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, Ruven Menikdiwela, the Director of the UNHCR's New York office, stated that as of September 24, over 2,500 individuals have been counted as dead or missing in 2023.
Menikdiwela added that this figure represents an increase of two-thirds compared to 1,680 people during the same period in 2022," as reported by the French news agency AFP.
The perilous journey across the Mediterranean has continued to claim the lives of many migrants and refugees seeking a better life in Europe.
Despite ongoing efforts by various organizations and countries to address the issue, the numbers remain alarmingly high, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive and coordinated actions to prevent further loss of life in these treacherous waters.
The Mediterranean migration crisis has been a long-standing humanitarian concern, with migrants and refugees often risking their lives in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, facing perilous conditions and exploitation by human traffickers.
The UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies have been actively involved in rescue operations and assisting those affected by this crisis.
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