The first three months of 2023 marked the deadliest quarter for boat migrants in the Mediterranean since 2017, with at least 441 deaths of those trying to cross to Europe. The United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM) made the grim announcement in a press release on Wednesday.
The Easter weekend saw 3,000 migrants reach the Italian coast, bringing the total number of arrivals this year to 31,192. IOM Director General, António Vitorino called the "persisting humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable".
The IOM cited a stepdown in state-led rescue efforts as a reason for the increasing loss of life on the "world’s most dangerous maritime crossing", as well as deliberate moves to impede search and rescue operations (SAR) led by NGOs.
The press release stated that at least 127 lives were lost this year due to delays in state-led rescues; 73 were put down to the complete absence of response. The IOM noted that NGO efforts have been greatly diminished by government crack-downs on rescue operations and cited an instance on 25 March in which the Libyan Coast Guard fired shots in the air when NGO rescue ship Ocean Viking responded to a report of a boat in distress. Separately, another vessel was detained on 26 March in Italy after rescuing 180 people at sea.
These are just two of many cases of humanitarian efforts in the Mediterranean being hindered or altogether stopped – costing the lives of an unknown number of people.
"Saving lives at sea is a legal obligation for States," said Vitorino. "We need to see proactive state-led coordination in search and rescue efforts. Guided by the spirit of responsibility-sharing and solidarity, we call on States to work together and work to reduce loss of life along migration routes."
The IOM added that "all maritime vessels, including commercial ships, have a legal obligation to provide rescue to boats in distress". It called for further action to "dismantle criminal smuggling networks and prosecute those that profit from the desperation of migrants and refugees by facilitating perilous journeys."
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The 441 migrants who have been reported dead this year is lower than the true number of lives lost as people flee to Europe.
