Refugees take ‘enormous’ risks to reach Europe
INCREASED border restrictions and lack of accessible legal ways to reach Europe have caused refugees and migrants to take more “diversified and dangerous journeys”, such as relying on people smugglers or using flimsy boats to cross rough seas, a new report by the UN refugee agency has revealed.
“This report clearly shows that the lack of accessible and safe pathways leads refugees and migrants to take enormous risks while attempting to reach Europe, including those simply trying to join family members.” said Vincent Cochetel, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Director of Europe Bureau, on Monday.
According to “Desperate Journeys”, issued by UNHCR, the “closure” of the Western Balkan route and the EU-Turkey Statement in March last year, caused a drastic decrease in the number of people reaching Greece via the Eastern Mediterranean route.
However, since then, the Central Mediterranean route from North Africa to Italy has become the primary entry point to Europe and arrival trends in Italy show that the primary nationalities who crossed to Greece had not switched in significant numbers to the Central Mediterranean route.
In addition to drowning, migrants and refugees also risk being kidnapped, held against their will for several days, physical and sexual abuse, torture and extortion by smugglers and criminal gangs at several points along key routes.
The UN agency pointed out that in 2016, some 181 436 refugees arrived in Italy by sea. They included people in need of international protection, victims of trafficking and migrants seeking better lives.
About 90% of them travelled by boat from Libya, and the top two nationalities of those arriving were Nigerians (21%) and Eritreans (11%). This route is particularly dangerous and, last year, recorded more deaths at sea than ever before.
Furthermore, children making this journey are especially vulnerable, and the number of unaccompanied and separated children arriving is increasing.
Last year, more than 25 000 came, representing 14% of all new arrivals in Italy. “Their number more than doubled compared to the previous year,” said UNHCR.