IOM calls for the international community to act to prevent migrants dying following recent tragedies at sea and on land
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said today that it is seriously concerned by a spate of deaths of migrants in search of better lives.
This week, 30 Haitian migrants died at sea off the Bahamas, following on from similar recent tragedies in the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, as well as in the deserts of Mexico and the Sahara.
IOM Director General William Lacy Swing said the deaths must act as a wake-up call for the international community.
Swing said: "The priority is to save lives. National authorities must ensure that any people travelling in unsafe conditions are rescued and receive adequate humanitarian assistance, and that traffickers taking advantage of desperate individuals are prosecuted."
"Based on our understanding of mobility, and our hands-on experience in places of origin, transit and destination, IOM is convinced that the international community needs to develop a more comprehensive approach to protect migrants and uphold human dignity. Governments should recognize that migrants arriving by sea and land are not criminals."
IOM says it is calling for a comprehensive approach to migration management with the understanding that no single action alone is enough to address the problem.
Most importantly, IOM says it wants to see more legal migration avenues for migrants seeking better prospects abroad: "a move that will remove the need of some migrants to risk their lives at the hands of smugglers and traffickers."
Meanwhile, the European Commission announced today that its European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR) will become operational on December 2nd.
The Commission says EUROSUR will make an important contribution to saving lives of those who put themselves in danger to reach Europe's shores.
Welcoming its launch, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström said: “It is a truly European response to save the lives of migrants travelling in overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels, to avoid further tragedies in the Mediterranean and also to stop speed boats transporting drugs. All these initiatives are highly dependent on a timely information exchange and coordinated efforts between the national and European agencies. EUROSUR provides that framework, in full respect of international obligation.”
See the Commission memo here for more details.