Factors such as poverty and fraud have fueled illegal migration, with many individuals opting for cheaper but perilous routes to escape to more prosperous regions.
Unfortunately, these dangerous paths often lead to fatalities or migrants being declared missing.
The scourge of illegal migration
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 30,000 people died or went missing between 2014 and September 25, 2024, across the Western, Central, and Eastern Mediterranean routes.
Statista attributes this high figure to a surge in migration during 2015 and 2016, which accounted for 30% of all migrant deaths and disappearances on these routes between 2014 and 2022.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that refugees and migrants from about 20 different African countries “die while crossing the desert or near borders.”
“The absence of critical services is placing refugees and migrants at great risk of harm and death and is also triggering dangerous secondary onward movements,”
“Some refugees and migrants underestimate the risks, while many fall victim to the narratives of smugglers and traffickers,” Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR special envoy for the central Mediterranean situation pointed out.
In August, about 44 migrants were found dead at Agadez in Niger about 1000km from Niamey.
The dead migrants were on their way to Europe before being found dead in the desert.
In September, a wooden boat carrying over 100 illegal migrants from the Senegalese town of Mbour sank after only 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of navigation.
About 26 bodies were recovered.
Senegal’s coastline is a common departure point for African migrants attempting to reach the Spanish Canary Islands, a primary gateway to Europe.
Europe’s action plan to curb illegal migration
In response to the persistent challenges along the Central Mediterranean migration route, the European Commission introduced a comprehensive action plan in November 2022.
The plan addresses the critical issues stemming from irregular and unsafe migration, which continue to result in loss of life and humanitarian crises across the region.
The action plan outlines 20 measures aimed at tackling these challenges, focusing on reducing dangerous and unauthorized migration while strengthening coordinated efforts in search and rescue operations.
These measures are designed to improve safety and efficiency, ensuring a more organized and humane approach to managing migration in the region.
According to data from Statista, the following routes have been described as the deadliest migration routes between 2014 and 2024;
| Rank | Migration route | Number of deaths/missing |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Mediterranean |
30354 |
|
2 |
Sahara desert |
6316 |
|
3 |
Atlantic route-Canary Island |
4828 |
|
4 |
Eastern Route to/from East and Horn of Africa |
2116 |
The Mediterranean remains the most dangerous region for refugees fleeing conflict, persecution, and economic hardship, claiming 30,354 lives, as reflected in the data.
Incidents during crossings of the Sahara Desert, with 6,316 recorded deaths over the past decade, are closely linked to these migration movements.
Other dangerous routes include the Afghanistan-Iran corridor, which accounted for 3,092 deaths or missing migrants.
Additionally, illegal border crossings between the U.S. and Mexico resulted in 5,431 deaths and disappearances during the same period.
