Migrants traveling towards North Africa and beyond face a multitude of perils
Increasing instability in some African countries creates greater numbers of refugees and higher levels of risk, Tour de France bike-makers face allegations of forced labour at their manufacturing sites, and Sierra Leone makes child marriage illegal.
Image: © IOM 2016/Amanda NERO
Conflict, forced displacement and disasters generated by the climate emergency have greatly exacerbated the risks faced by refugees and migrants traversing the perilous Central Mediterranean Route, according to the second volume of a report jointly published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
‘On This Journey, No One Cares if You Live or Die’: Volume 2, an update to 2020’s edition, explores the protection risks and extreme forms of violence and exploitation refugees and migrants face, as they cross from the East and Horn of Africa and West Africa to the North African coast of the Mediterranean and onward to Europe, mapping these risks to offer an updated understanding of where they are perceived to be most acute and their reported perpetrators. It aims to inform concrete routes-based protection responses and to call for action on the root causes of displacement and the drivers of irregular migration through greater efforts on peace, climate change, governance, and inequality, as well as for the creation of safe migration pathways.
In total, 1,180 persons are known to have died while crossing the Sahara Desert for the period January 2020 to May 2024 but the number is believed to be much higher while, during the same period, around 7,115 people on the move were reported to have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea, the report states. Crimes against humanity, death, sexual and gender-based violence, torture and physical violence, kidnapping for ransom, trafficking in persons, and robbery are among the dangers that refugees and migrants face.
As a development from the previous report, further risks have also been investigated, including arbitrary detention, bribery and extortion, collective expulsions, and refoulement. At sea, authorities continue to intercept people in distress, returning them to places that are not considered safe for disembarkation, including some without an asylum system – those expelled may face persecution, torture, ill treatment or other irreparable harm, the authors say. During this post-COVID period, the presence of refugees and migrants in a number of countries has also become highly politicized, leading to visible expressions of racism and generating protection incidents and fear among refugees and migrants and consequent dangerous onward movements.
Recently, the security situation has further deteriorated in several countries, generating increased displacement and cross-border movements of persons in need of international protection and of migrants. New conflicts in the Sahel have doubled the displaced population to almost 5 million, in the East and Horn of Africa droughts and floods are having a dramatic impact on new and protracted emergencies, and the number of displaced people due to the conflict in the Sudan reached 8.8 million as of May 2024. While there are no comprehensive statistics on land arrivals across the many countries of transit and initial destination, evidence points to an increased number of refugees and migrants moving to North Africa. In Tunisia for instance, UNHCR registered 209 per cent more refugees and asylum-seekers in 2023 than it did in 2020.
Critical protection safety nets remain lacking in key areas, and a dangerous sense of resignation has paralyzed states-led responses along these routes despite their commitment to save lives and address vulnerabilities under international law and other instruments, the report says. The authors calls for an increased programmatic and strategic “all of route” or route-based approach, spanning country of origin to first country of asylum/transit to country of destination, including collaboration with local actors to overcome accessibility issues and develop local safety networks, safe houses, support services, and referral systems.
In addition, continuous efforts are needed to provide reliable information to those planning to move, debunk “fake news” posted by smugglers, counter the role of social media in idealizing irregular movements or life in destination countries, and investigate and prosecute those responsible for crimes against refugees and migrants, including human traffickers, the authors say. Finally, it is fundamental to address the root causes of displacement and minimize the adverse drivers of irregular migration through renewed efforts on climate action and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and New Agenda for Peace.
Here’s a round-up of other noteworthy news and initiatives:
A newly released report by the Public Interest Research Centre (PIRC), in collaboration with the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery PEC), presents findings aimed at enhancing public understanding of modern slavery in the UK. The report emphasizes the need to move beyond simplistic narratives towards a nuanced understanding that incorporates systemic drivers and survivor perspectives, to foster more empathetic and informed public discourse on the issue.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have signed a new Statement of Partnership aimed at enhancing collaboration on combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling. This strategic alliance seeks to bolster efforts in key areas such as border management, terrorism prevention, and the protection of migrant rights through coordinated programs and data utilization.
Tour de France bike manufacturers, including Giant, Trek, Scott, and Shimano, face criticism over allegations of forced labour involving migrant workers at their Asian manufacturing sites. Investigations reveal debt-bonded labour and harsh conditions for workers, prompting some companies like Shimano to take corrective actions, while others, such as Giant, deny responsibility and stress compliance with local laws.
Resistance forces in Myanmar have made significant territorial gains, resulting in increased violence, civilian casualties, and forced conscription, severely affecting the population. With the humanitarian response plan currently only 12 per cent funded, increased financial support and donor flexibility are urgently needed to address the escalating crisis.
Signatories from 300 civil society organizations in the UK, along with 534 individuals working with migrants, have written to new Prime Minister Keir Starmer with a blueprint for asylum policy, urging him to change course from the previous government’s policies. Key demands include restoring the right to seek asylum in the UK in line with international law, opening safe routes so people are not forced to risk their lives at sea, and housing asylum-seekers in communities not camps. In his first news conference, Starmer confirmed he had scrapped the notorious Rwanda deportation plan.
Sierra Leone recently enacted a new law prohibiting child marriage, which introduces strict penalties for those involved in marrying girls under 18, aiming to curb the country's prevalent patriarchal traditions and improve outcomes for girls and maternal health.
The Global Initiative is hosting a webinar on 11 July discussing the intersection of its Global Organized Crime Index and its dedicated research initiative on sanctions. The webinar will focus on leveraging the index as a tool to design, analyze, and assess the use of sanctions targeting transnational organized crime.
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