UN reports nearly 8,000 deaths or disappearances on migrant routes last year

The United Nations announced that nearly 8,000 people died or went missing on dangerous migration routes, such as the Mediterranean Sea, in the past year, according to Reuters.

The actual number of victims is likely much higher, as reduced humanitarian budgets have limited access and tracking of migrant deaths. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that legal migration pathways are shrinking, forcing more individuals into the hands of smugglers.

IOM Director General Amy Pope described the ongoing loss of lives on migration routes as "a global failure that we cannot normalize." She added that without safe routes available, people are compelled to undertake perilous journeys and rely on smugglers, emphasizing the need to expand safe and legal migration options.