Decline in Migrant Deaths in the Middle East Amid Continued Risks
UN report highlights the ongoing dangers of migration routes despite a decrease in fatalities.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Wednesday that 3,400 migrants have died or gone missing in 2024, including 159 children and 257 women.
The report, titled "Missing Migrants in the Middle East and North Africa 2024," emphasizes the continued perilous journeys undertaken by many migrants amid ongoing conflicts, economic collapse, and lack of regular pathways for migration.
According to the IOM's findings presented in Cairo, maritime routes from the region remain the most lethal, with over 2,500 reported cases of death and disappearance.
In contrast, more than 900 cases were documented on land routes throughout the region.
Although this figure reflects a 30% decline from 2023, which saw around 5,000 fatalities, it still underscores a troubling reality that likely does not capture the complete scope of the crisis.
Many deaths go unreported due to data gaps, particularly in remote deserts and conflict areas, or in maritime incidents where no survivors are found.
The inconsistencies in tracking and lack of coordination among countries, along with limited humanitarian access, have all contributed to the failure to accurately represent the true situation.
The report highlights harrowing facts about "irregular migration" across the region and calls for enhanced regional cooperation, improved data collection, and comprehensive responses that prioritize the dignity and rights of migrants and focus on life-saving measures and support for the families of the missing.
Othman Belbisi, IOM's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated, "Statistics are often described as dry numbers; every figure in this report represents a life that ended prematurely.
These are not faceless tragedies; they are personal calamities that can be prevented." He further stressed the urgent need for improved data, safer migration pathways, and shared responsibility to safeguard lives.
Of the migrants who lost their lives in the Middle East and North Africa in 2024, 739 were from the region itself, with over 80% dying within the region.
Additionally, the "Missing Migrants" report documented over 9,103 deaths and disappearances worldwide in 2024. A data shortage continues to hinder efforts to monitor the phenomenon, as migrants often perish unidentified, leaving their families in grief and uncertainty.
The report calls for a reassessment of how migration is managed in the Middle East and North Africa, emphasizing the necessity for better systems for data collection, cross-border victim identification, and early warning mechanisms to effectively alert migrants to potential risks, thus aiding in preventing loss of life during journeys.
It also advocates for more effective regular migration pathways, responsible and balanced media narratives reflecting the humanitarian context of migration, and increased academic engagement to fill data gaps and inform policy-making.
The report was launched alongside a short film screening and a panel discussion focusing on the risks, realities, and responsibilities associated with irregular migration in the region.
The event was organized by the IOM's Regional Data Center in partnership with the American University in Cairo's Migration and Refugee Studies Center and the Medfest Egypt Short Film Festival, which explores the intersection of cinema and health.
Discussion participants, including humanitarian organizations, academic circles, and media, addressed how uncoordinated data collection and sharing, negative narratives, and reactive policies have contributed to the ongoing loss of life, and highlighted the importance of adopting a coordinated, evidence-based approach to change this reality.
The report, titled "Missing Migrants in the Middle East and North Africa 2024," emphasizes the continued perilous journeys undertaken by many migrants amid ongoing conflicts, economic collapse, and lack of regular pathways for migration.
According to the IOM's findings presented in Cairo, maritime routes from the region remain the most lethal, with over 2,500 reported cases of death and disappearance.
In contrast, more than 900 cases were documented on land routes throughout the region.
Although this figure reflects a 30% decline from 2023, which saw around 5,000 fatalities, it still underscores a troubling reality that likely does not capture the complete scope of the crisis.
Many deaths go unreported due to data gaps, particularly in remote deserts and conflict areas, or in maritime incidents where no survivors are found.
The inconsistencies in tracking and lack of coordination among countries, along with limited humanitarian access, have all contributed to the failure to accurately represent the true situation.
The report highlights harrowing facts about "irregular migration" across the region and calls for enhanced regional cooperation, improved data collection, and comprehensive responses that prioritize the dignity and rights of migrants and focus on life-saving measures and support for the families of the missing.
Othman Belbisi, IOM's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated, "Statistics are often described as dry numbers; every figure in this report represents a life that ended prematurely.
These are not faceless tragedies; they are personal calamities that can be prevented." He further stressed the urgent need for improved data, safer migration pathways, and shared responsibility to safeguard lives.
Of the migrants who lost their lives in the Middle East and North Africa in 2024, 739 were from the region itself, with over 80% dying within the region.
Additionally, the "Missing Migrants" report documented over 9,103 deaths and disappearances worldwide in 2024. A data shortage continues to hinder efforts to monitor the phenomenon, as migrants often perish unidentified, leaving their families in grief and uncertainty.
The report calls for a reassessment of how migration is managed in the Middle East and North Africa, emphasizing the necessity for better systems for data collection, cross-border victim identification, and early warning mechanisms to effectively alert migrants to potential risks, thus aiding in preventing loss of life during journeys.
It also advocates for more effective regular migration pathways, responsible and balanced media narratives reflecting the humanitarian context of migration, and increased academic engagement to fill data gaps and inform policy-making.
The report was launched alongside a short film screening and a panel discussion focusing on the risks, realities, and responsibilities associated with irregular migration in the region.
The event was organized by the IOM's Regional Data Center in partnership with the American University in Cairo's Migration and Refugee Studies Center and the Medfest Egypt Short Film Festival, which explores the intersection of cinema and health.
Discussion participants, including humanitarian organizations, academic circles, and media, addressed how uncoordinated data collection and sharing, negative narratives, and reactive policies have contributed to the ongoing loss of life, and highlighted the importance of adopting a coordinated, evidence-based approach to change this reality.
