New York: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations reported that more than 2,500 people died or went missing during dangerous irregular migration journeys from North Africa to Europe across the Mediterranean during this year, until the 24th of this month. This number represents an increase of 70 percent, specifically 67 percent, over the same period last year. According to what was stated in the United Nations daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received on Friday morning
According to the UN bulletin, the numbers came in a session held by the UN Security Council that dealt with the situation related to the Mediterranean Sea, at the request of Russia, during which two representatives of the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration spoke.
  Ruven Menekdiwela, Director of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in New York, said that lives are also being lost on land beyond attention. She said that the journey from West or East Africa and the Horn of Africa to Libya and later to the continent’s departure points on the coast is still one of the most dangerous journeys in the world.
She said that refugees and migrants traveling by land from sub-Saharan Africa risk death and serious human rights violations at every step.
The Security Council session is being held in the context of Resolution 2240 relating to the smuggling of migrants off the coast of Libya.
The UN official expressed concern about the disembarkation of refugees and migrants who are intercepted at sea on Libyan soil. She said that Libya is not a safe place to disembark them after rescuing them at sea.
She said that the conditions under which thousands of refugees and migrants live in official and unofficial detention centers in Libya raise serious concerns. She conveyed UNHCR's call to register all persons seeking international protection, and its need for support from Libya to ensure adequate access and assistance to them.
She stressed the need for all Mediterranean countries to strengthen their search and rescue efforts and implement effective and predictable landing mechanisms.
The Director of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in New York expressed concern about the situation on the Italian island of Lampedusa and said: “Italy cannot be left to respond alone to the needs of arrivals. The Commission has repeatedly called for the establishment of an agreed-upon regional mechanism for the disembarkation and distribution of arrivals by sea, in a spirit of shared responsibility and solidarity with other countries.” Front lines.
She stressed the need for all Mediterranean countries to strengthen their search and rescue efforts and implement effective and predictable landing mechanisms.
Bar Liljeert, Director of the International Organization for Migration's office at the United Nations, told the Security Council that the focus is on deaths at sea, while the stories shared by migrants indicate the possibility of tragedies occurring far from sight while crossing the desert.
He added: "Although other major migration routes have emerged in recent years, the Central White Sea route remains the most dangerous."
According to what the International Organization for Migration official said, the impact of the conflict in Sudan, which resulted in the displacement of large numbers of people, has become evident in the demographic composition of those arriving to Europe via the Central White Sea route.
It is noteworthy that August witnessed the arrival of 1,294 Sudanese to Italy after passing through Tunisia.
Liljeert expressed regret about the increasing discrimination, xenophobic attacks and negative rhetoric against migrants and refugees along the Mediterranean route. He urged all countries to ensure the safety and dignity of those within their borders.