The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealed in a report on Tuesday that 8,542 people died or disappeared during migration in 2023. This represents a 20 percent increase in migrant deaths compared to 2022. More than one-third of migrants come from countries in conflict or with large refugee populations.

The report stated that at least 3,105 deaths occurred in the Mediterranean Sea. Most deaths in the Mediterranean Sea occurred in the Central Mediterranean crossing between Italy and North Africa. In addition, at least 1,866 deaths occurred in Africa. Deaths increased on the Atlantic Route to Spain’s Canary Islands from Western African countries, such as Senegal and Mauritania. Although 429 deaths were reported in the Sahara, the report stated that many deaths were likely unreported.

In addition, the report stated that more than 33,000 people that passed away during migration had an unknown country of origin and more than half of unidentified deaths involved individuals of unknown gender.

While the report highlighted that “data on migration, irregular migration movements [] and missing migrants are difficult to collect”, the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project also indicated an urgent need to strengthen search and rescue capacities, facilitate safe and regular migration pathways and increase international cooperation to prevent further loss of life.

Initiatives to curb the influx of migrants have raised concerns about human rights violations. On January 22, Amnesty International urged Italian lawmakers to reject a migration deal with Albania that would establish centers under Italian jurisdiction in Albania to detain migrants. Amnesty International called the agreement “unworkable, harmful and unlawful.” On January 8, the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights accused the Tunisian government of orchestrating a campaign of repression against migrants to ensure the country will receive financial and logistical support from Europe.