UN: More than 1,500 migrants died in the Mediterranean in 2011

UN: More than 1,500 migrants died in the Mediterranean in 2011

2012-02-01 08:39:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK/GENEVA (BNO NEWS) -- More than 1,500 people drowned or went missing while attempting to cross the sea from Africa to reach Europe last year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported on Tuesday.

The deaths make the Mediterranean Sea the world's deadliest stretch of water for migrants and refugees, and the numbers released on Tuesday are the highest since UNHCR began to record these statistics in 2006.

"Our teams in Greece, Italy, Libya, and Malta, warn that the actual number of deaths at sea may be even higher," UNHCR spokesperson Sybella Wilkes told reporters in Geneva. She added that the UNHCR estimates were based on interviews with migrants who reached Europe by boat, telephone and e-mail communication from their relatives, as well as reports from Libya and Tunisia from survivors whose boats either sank or were in distress.

Large numbers of people have tried to reach Europe since early last year when pro-democracy protests erupted across North Africa and the Middle East. Some survivors have reported cases of abuse and torture experienced at the hands of other passengers during the journey.

"We renew our call to all shipmasters in the Mediterranean, one of the busiest stretches of water in the world, to remain vigilant and to carry out their duty of rescuing vessels in distress," Wilkes stated. She added that, despite poor weather conditions and high seas, three boats had already attempted the crossing in 2012, with one going missing at sea.

Of last year's arrivals by sea, 56,000 landed in Italy while Malta and Greece received 1,574 and 1,000 respectively. In addition, according to the Greek Government, an estimated 55,000 irregular migrants crossed the Greek-Turkish land border.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-02-01