Over 10,000 migrants die trying to reach Spain in 2024
A refugee rights organization in Spain has reported that more than 10,000 migrants have lost their lives this year while attempting to reach the country by sea.
The Spanish migration rights group Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders) stated on Thursday, December 26, that the number of migrant deaths has increased by 58% compared to last year.
The report notes that tens of thousands of migrants have left West Africa in 2024, heading toward the Canary Islands.
Camino Fronteras added that, on average, 30 migrants die every day while attempting this dangerous journey.
The organization’s report further reveals that among the deceased, 1,538 were children and 421 were women, with most of the drowning incidents occurring in April and May of this year.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Ministry of the Interior has stated that 57,700 migrants arrived in Spain by sea by December 15, 2024, marking an increase of nearly 12% compared to the same period last year.
In April of the previous year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that over 400 migrants had drowned in the first three months of the year in the Mediterranean Sea.
This staggering rise in migrant deaths underscores the perilous conditions people face as they attempt to escape dire circumstances in their home countries. Despite the risks, many migrants continue to embark on these dangerous journeys, driven by the hope of a better life.
Poverty and war remain critical drivers of migration, forcing individuals to risk their lives in search of safety and better opportunities, highlighting the need for global efforts to address these root causes.
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