More than 2,500 migrants have lost their lives or gone missing in 2023 while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, the UN said on Thursday.
The central Mediterranean, known for being the most dangerous route for migrants in the world, witnessed an alarming surge in migration this year.
The International Organisation for Migration recorded 2,778 deaths – a significant increase from 1,680 fatalities and disappearances in 2022.
The Mediterranean has a long history of human migration, but it has gained global attention in recent years due to the skyrocketing numbers of people seeking asylum and opportunities by crossing its waters.
In total, about 186,000 people arrived by sea in southern Europe from January to September 24, landing in Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Malta.
Arrivals in Greece this year surged by more than 300 per cent, while Italy received 130,000, an increase of 83 per cent compared to 2022.
“The situation on Lampedusa is reason for serious concern,” warned Ruven Menikdiwela, representative of the UN refugee commissioner, who was briefing the Security Council on the situation in the high seas off Libya.
She stressed that Italy cannot be left on its own in responding to the needs of the arriving migrants.
“The UN has repeatedly called for the establishment of an agreed regional disembarkation and redistribution mechanism for people who arrive by sea, in a spirit of responsibility sharing and solidarity with frontline states,” she revealed.
An estimated 102,000 refugees and migrants also tried to cross from Tunisia to Europe and 45,000 from Libya, risking “death and gross human rights violations at every step”, the UN official said.
The EU is on track to receive more than one million asylum seekers this year – the biggest number since 2015 and 2016, when it saw a huge influx of migrants, mainly Syrians fleeing the war in their country.
France’s UN ambassador Nicolas de Riviere spoke on his country's commitment to countering the trafficking and smuggling of people from Libya “in the absence of a state which favours the smuggling and trafficking of persons as well as militia”.
“This is why France is committed to supporting the establishment of Libyan state which is stable and unified – the only way to put an end to this trafficking,” he said.
'Spies in Disguise'
Director: Nick Bruno and Troy Quane
Stars: Will Smith, Tom Holland, Karen Gillan and Roshida Jones
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
BANGLADESH SQUAD
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim (wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan (vice captain), Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahaman, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Jayed (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
How to help or find other cats to adopt
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
More on animal trafficking
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Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
