More than 2,000 migrants have died crossing Mediterranean
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 4 August 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, More than 2,000 migrants have died crossing Mediterranean, 4 August 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55ee965f23.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 04, 2015
More than 2,000 people have died so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on August 4 that the death toll is 20 percent higher than in the same period in 2014.
"It is unacceptable that in the 21st century people fleeing from conflict, persecutions, misery, and land degradation must endure such terrible experiences...and then die on Europe's doorstep," said IOM Director-General William Lacy Swing.
IOM spokesman Itayi Virri told reporters in Geneva that about 188,000 people had been rescued this year from boats while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.
Virri said about 97,000 of the migrants had arrived in Italy and 90,500 landed in Greece.
Most of those who died were on boats travelling from Libya to the Italian island of Sicily.
Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
