Report: The United Nations has declared 2024 as the deadliest year for migrants, with nearly 9,000 people losing their lives while attempting to migrate across the world. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that at least 8,938 individuals died along migration routes last year.
IOM’s Deputy Director, Ugochi Daniels, described the rising death toll among migrants as an unacceptable tragedy and emphasized the urgent need for preventive measures. She highlighted the devastating impact these deaths have on the families of the victims.
The organization also pointed out that the actual number of migrant deaths and disappearances is likely much higher due to undocumented cases and lack of official data. Many of the victims remain unidentified, making it difficult to track the full scale of the crisis.
According to IOM data, Asia recorded 2,778 deaths, Africa saw 2,242 fatalities, and Europe reported 233 deaths in 2024. The Mediterranean Sea remained one of the most dangerous migration routes, with 2,452 lives lost as people attempted to reach Europe.
In the Americas, final statistics are still being compiled, but preliminary figures indicate at least 1,233 migrant deaths. This includes 341 fatalities in the Caribbean and a record 174 deaths of migrants attempting to cross the treacherous Darién Gap, a key migration corridor between Colombia and Panama for those trying to reach the United States.
