This year is on its way to becoming the most deadly for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
ADVERTISEMENTThis year is on its way to becoming the most deadly for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
Amnesty International has published a report citing figures from the International Organization for Migration.
In 2015, 2,876 migrants died at sea. In the first half of 2017, more than 2,000 to have lost their lives. A mortality rate of 2.7 percent.
According to Amnesty, the EU has made a dangerous turn on the Med as it looks to Libya to help in slowing the number of migrants attempting to make the crossing in flimsy boats.
“The current situation with the Libyan coast guard is absolutely outrageous,” said Iverna McGowan, Amnesty’s EU office Director.
“It is unconscionable that the EU operations would allow certain rescue operations, which we know is inadequate, and trust that with people’s lives. We have seen the Libyan coast guard misuse firearms, we know they are not adequately trained. Libya is going back to unlawful detention centers where they are facing torture, rape and other unthinkable abuses.”
“The current situation with the Libyan Coast Guard is absolutely scandalous. It is unacceptable that European Union operations allow rescue operations that we know are not appropriate, knowing that lives are at stake. The Libyan coast guard is making misuse of firearms, we know that they are not properly trained, and perhaps even worse, we know that people who are disembarking in Libya are returning to illegal detention centers Where they can be tortured, raped and exposed to other unthinkable abuses.”
Those who are intercepted by the Libyan coast guard are sent back to a country where the right of asylum does not exist and are often crammed into detention centres.