 says more than 3,000 people died or went missing while crossing into Europe in 2021.){kind=link}
Europe (Times Of Ocean)- The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says more than 3,000 people died or went missing while crossing into Europe in 2021.
UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo says the people died or went missing while trying to cross the Central and Western Mediterranean and Atlantic to Europe. un
Mantoo was citing a recent UNHCR report that called for urgent action to “prevent deaths and protect refugees and asylum seekers embarking on dangerous journeys by land or sea.”
It is estimated that 1,924 people died or went missing on the Central and Western Mediterranean routes in 2021, while 1,153 died or went missing on the Northwest African route to the Canary Islands.
In 2020, there were 1,544 deaths reported on the two routes.
“Unexpectedly, since the start of this year, 478 more people have died or gone missing at sea,” the statement continued.
“The majority of these sea crossings took place in packed, unworthy inflatable boats – many of which capsized or deflated, resulting in fatalities,” the report stated.
For its fresh strategy for the protection of refugees, UNHCR also requested $163.5 million to assist and protect thousands of refugees.