AT least 78 migrants including those from Pakistan drowned early on Wednesday and more were feared missing after their overloaded boat capsized and sank off Greece, in one of Europe’s deadliest shipwrecks this year. This yet another tragedy at sea highlights the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address the issue of illegal migration.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, whilst commenting on the tragedy very rightly called on governments to work together on creating safe pathways for people fleeing poverty and war. Such incidents involving the illegal immigrants have become more frequent in recent times. About 72,000 refugees and migrants have arrived so far this year in Europe’s frontline Mediterranean countries, according to United Nations data, with the majority landing in Italy and around 6,500 in Greece. Nearly 1,000 people are estimated to have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean this year, according to the UN. It is essential to acknowledge the underlying motivations that drive migrants to risk their lives by undertaking treacherous journeys across seas and borders. Individuals embark upon these perilous adventures in pursuit of improved job prospects, seeking to escape poverty or lack of economic opportunities in their home countries. Human traffickers exploit such desperate individuals who often find themselves trapped in a cycle of exploitation, risking their lives at the mercy of ruthless criminals.
To effectively tackle this issue, it is imperative to address its root causes. This requires a comprehensive approach that combines efforts from both origin and destination countries. Origin countries must focus on implementing policies that promote economic growth, create job opportunities and provide avenues for education and skill development. The destination countries need to establish such legal immigration frameworks that offer safe and regulated paths for migration. By streamlining the immigration process and creating channels for legal labour migration, countries can channel the aspirations of migrants towards legal and safe avenues. This not only ensures the protection of human rights but also allows destination countries to benefit from the skills and contributions that migrants bring. Then, countries must also work together to dismantle human trafficking networks.
