Over 2,200 people dead or missing in the Mediterranean this year as migration continues

Jan 4, 2025 -  More than 2,200 people have died or disappeared in the Mediterranean in 2024 while trying to reach Europe in search of safety. The numbers, shared by UNICEF, paint a grim picture of the ongoing migration crisis.

The latest tragedy came on New Year’s Eve when a boat carrying migrants from Libya capsized. Twenty people were reported missing after the boat started taking on water about 20 miles from the Libyan coast. Seven survivors, including an eight-year-old Syrian boy, managed to cling to an inflatable boat and were rescued by the Italian coast guard off the island of Lampedusa.

The boat had set off from Zuwara in Libya around 10 PM on Monday, but just hours later, it began sinking, sending 20 passengers into the sea. According to survivors, chaos broke out as the boat went down.

Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF's regional director for Europe and Central Asia, confirmed the tragic toll. "The number of deaths and missing people in the Mediterranean has now exceeded 2,200 in 2024," she said. "Around 1,700 of those deaths have happened on the central Mediterranean route." She also pointed out that children make up one in five of those crossing the sea, many fleeing conflict and poverty.

The central Mediterranean route remains one of the deadliest ways to reach Europe. Since 2014, the UN’s migration agency has documented more than 25,500 deaths and disappearances, with most boats leaving from Libya and Tunisia.

Even with efforts from Italy and the EU to curb migration, including agreements with Libya and Tunisia, people continue to risk the dangerous journey. This year, Italy saw more than 66,000 arrivals – a decrease compared to 2023, thanks in part to tougher policies by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.

But critics argue that agreements with Libya are only pushing migrants into detention camps, where they face violence and abuse. In September, The Guardian reported on the severe mistreatment of migrants in Tunisia, adding to the growing concerns about the fate of those trying to reach Europe.

As 2024 continues, the Mediterranean remains a deadly path for thousands hoping to build a better life.