Geneva: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that more than 52,000 people have died globally on migration routes since 2014, with thousands of Afghans among the victims. These deaths occurred mostly among those fleeing from countries facing crises such as conflict, insecurity, and natural disasters.
According to the IOM’s latest report, 72% of the total recorded migrant deaths in the past decade involved individuals escaping humanitarian crises. Nearly three-quarters of these deaths and disappearances took place under conditions of violence, displacement, or environmental catastrophe.
A quarter of the deceased were citizens of crisis-affected nations, including Afghans, Rohingya from Myanmar, and Syrians. Many lost their lives attempting to reach safety through perilous migration routes across the globe.
The report highlights that over 5,000 Afghans died while fleeing the country, particularly after the Taliban regained control in 2021. Additionally, more than 3,100 Rohingya Muslims perished while trying to escape Myanmar, many of them drowning in maritime disasters en route to Bangladesh.
The Central Mediterranean route remains the deadliest migration corridor, claiming approximately 25,000 lives in the past decade alone.
Amy Pope, Director General of the IOM, stressed the urgent need for global investment in stability and opportunity within origin countries to reduce the risks migrants face. She also called for the development of safer and legal pathways for migration.
“These figures reflect a grim reality—when insecurity and lack of opportunity rob people of safe choices, they are forced to risk their lives on deadly routes,” Pope said.
Many migrants make their journeys in unseaworthy, overcrowded rubber boats, often facing harsh weather conditions and maritime disasters. Some also fall victim to violence by border security forces, particularly along routes through Iran, Turkey, and other countries en route to Europe.
In one incident last April, 22 Afghan migrants died when their boat sank in Turkey, according to Afghanistan's Taliban-run Ministry for Refugees. A year earlier, at least 41 migrants, including Afghans, drowned near Italy’s Lampedusa Island when their boat capsized. Only 15 passengers were reportedly wearing life vests, with Italian maritime authorities rescuing and transporting survivors to safety.
Recently, European countries and the United Kingdom have tightened border controls to curb irregular migration, adding further challenges for those attempting to seek refuge.
