Edited News | UNHCR
“Italy: More than 450 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean disembark in Sicily signaling a sharp rise in sea arrivals in 2021 so far - UNHCR”
Following the latest rescue operations of migrants to Italy by Charity Ships in the Central Mediterranean, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned today of mounting refugee and migrant deaths in the Central Mediterranean with a 170 per cent increase of sea arrivals in Italy in 2021 compared to the same period in 2020.
Speaking from the port of Trapani in Sicily, UNHCR’s spokesperson for Italy, Carlotta Sami, told journalists at a briefing at the United Nations in Geneva that “over 450 persons, among them 190 minors, are disembarking following rescue and six different operations by the NGO vessel ‘Sea Watch’.
She added that “since the very early hour of Saturday 1st of May, some 1,500 persons have disembarked in Italy following rescue by the Italian Coast Guard and Custom police or by international NGOs in the Central Mediterranean.”
The majority of arrivals departed from Libya onboard in flimsy, unseaworthy vessels.
UNHCR has witnessed a great number of children among the migrants - many of them are unaccompanied.
The majority of migrants originate from Mali, and the Sahel/West Africa, Eritrea and North Africa. Many are fleeing from war and conflicts, like in the Sahel, where indiscriminate attacks constantly lead to death and forced displacement, or they are fleeing persecution and being trafficked.
However, according to UNHCR’s global statistics, movements to Europe represent only a small part of the global refugees’ situation. Eighty per cent of people who flee stay within their region of origin.
“5.5 millions of refugees and IDPs are in the Sahel Countries so what we see here, in Italy, is just the tip of the iceberg”, said Carlotta Sami. “The latest disembarkation in any case brings the number of sea arrivals to Italy in 2021 to 10,400. This is more than a 170 per cent increase compared to 2020.”
UNHCR gathered testimonies during the past few days, including from children, who speak of imprisonment and brutalities inflicted with no respect for human life, while survivors often show severe mental health problems as a result of the traumas they have faced.
UNHCR commends Italy for keeping its ports open during the pandemic but appeals to other European countries to step up its efforts to strengthen the protection of persons travelling along this route and to provide safe alternatives to these dangerous and desperate journeys.
“Solidarity from the other EU members is urgently needed”, said UNHCR’s Carlotta Sami. “UNHCR is deeply concerned about the death toll. So far in 2021, at least 500 persons are known to have lost life trying to make the sea crossing in the Central Med.”
She added that “in 2020, there were 150 in this period of the year, so we have an increase of 200 per cent. Of course, the tragic loss of lives underscores once again the need to re-establish a system coordinated by States for search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean.”
For UNHCR, this tragic loss of life underscores once again the need to reestablish a system for search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean coordinated by States. The deteriorating situation in Libya will continue to force people to resort to desperate measures to seek safety.
Legal pathways such as humanitarian corridors, evacuations, resettlement and family reunification must be expanded.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
Institutionalised forced labour by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea constitutes grave violations of human rights – UN report
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Time is running out for starving civilians in Sudan, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday, while talks involving the country’s warring parties continue in Geneva this week.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
DRC faces a severe humanitarian crisis with 25M in need and rising conflict-related issues.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
A gimmer of good news emerged from Gaza on Tuesday as patients returned to at a newly reopened UN health centre in Khan Younis, six months after it was severely damaged and forced to close by heavy fighting, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN condemns attacks on Kyiv hospitals, calls for immediate action to protect civilians.
1
1
2
Edited News | WHO
In Gaza, soaring temperatures, hunger and unsanitary conditions present an ever more deadly threat to a population under constant attack, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WMO , IFRC
Hurricane Beryl smashes into Caribbean, turns sights on Mexico As Hurricane Beryl’s destructive path shifted to Mexico on Friday after roiling the Caribbean, UN agencies and partners said that the emergency response was underway, before warning that a very long and damaging hurricane season looks increasingly likely.
1
1
2
Edited News | IOM , mcc , UNHCR
Refugees and migrants continue to face extreme forms of violence, exploitation and death on sea and on land across Africa as they attempt to leave the continent, UN agencies said on Friday, in an appeal to border authorities to do more to protect them.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk at the 56th Human Rigths Council, made the following update on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
New evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army for areas in southern Gaza are expected to impact 250,000 people, including eastern Khan Younis and Rafah, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
Gaza: People are desperate, they need everything, says UN aid agency Panic and desperation now grip ordinary Gazans struggling to survive, UN humanitarians said on Friday, amid fuel shortages of fuel and dwindling supplies that have prevented aid teams from doing their job.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
UN aid teams and partner organizations remain deeply committed to delivering lifesaving supplies into Gaza, despite the increasing dangers of working there, the Organization’s top aid official said on Wednesday.