The International Organisation for Migration says no fewer than 400 migrants died between January and March 2023 while attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean.

The Central Mediterranean route – stretching overseas from North Africa to Italy and, to a lesser degree, Malta – is the world’s most dangerous maritime crossing.

In a statement on Wednesday, IOM stated that the figure was the deadliest in the first quarter on record since 2017. Although the UN agency, in its Missing Migrants Projects, had documented 441 deaths during this period, noting that the true figure is likely to be higher.

Investigations continue into several reports of so-called invisible shipwrecks – cases where boats are reported missing, but no records of survivors or search and rescue (SAR) operations exist.

According to IOM, the fate of more than 300 people aboard those vessels remains unclear. 

IOM said the rise in deaths comes amidst delays in state-led rescue responses and hindrances to SAR operations carried out by non-governmental organisations.

“The persisting humanitarian crisis in the Central Mediterranean is intolerable. With more than 20,000 deaths recorded on this route since 2014, I fear that these deaths have been normalised,” IOM director-general, António Vitorino, said. “States must respond. Delays and gaps in State-led SAR are costing human lives.”

Delays in state-led rescues were cited as a factor in at least six incidents in the Central Mediterranean, leading to at least 127 fatalities, while the complete absence of response in a seventh case claimed at least 73 lives.

Meanwhile, NGO-led rescue efforts have been “markedly diminished” of late, the UN agency said, outlining the latest incidents.

IOM reported that on 25 March, the Libyan Coast Guard fired shots in the air as an NGO rescue ship, Ocean King, was responding to a report of a rubber boat in distress.

The following day, another vessel, the Louise Michel, was detained in Italy after rescuing 180 people, reminiscent of the situation of the Geo Barents, detained in February and subsequently released.

Over the past weekend, 3,000 migrants reached Italy, bringing the total number of arrivals so far this year to 31,192, IOM said.

On Tuesday, a vessel carrying roughly 800 people was rescued more than 200km southeast of Sicily by the Italian Coast Guard with the assistance of a commercial vessel.

The Italian Coast Guard also rescued another ship with around 400 migrants who had been adrift between Italy and Malta for two days. IOM noted that not all migrants from these ships had reached safety and disembarked in Italy yet.

“Saving lives at sea is a legal obligation for States,” Mr Vitorino said, adding, “We need to see proactive State-led coordination in search and rescue efforts.”

IOM said the troubling situation in the Central Mediterranean underscored the need for dedicated, predictable State-led SAR and disembarkation.

Action must also include supporting NGOs that provide lifesaving assistance at sea and ending the criminalisation, obstruction and deterrence of the efforts of those who provide such assistance.

IOM stressed that all maritime vessels, including commercial ships, are legally obligated to rescue boats in distress.

IOM further called for more concerted action to dismantle criminal smuggling networks and prosecute those profiting from the desperation of migrants and refugees by facilitating dangerous journeys. 

(NAN)