The Asylum Seekers and Refugees Solidarity Association (ARSA) has released its in-depth report “Vanished in Transit.” The findings reveal that since 2014, more than 75,000 refugees have died or gone missing during migration journeys. The Central Mediterranean route alone has claimed over 24,000 lives, with drowning accounting for nearly 60% of all cases.
Highlights from the report include:
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Regional Data: Documented deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean, Africa, Asia, the Americas, Western Asia, and Europe.
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Causes of Death: Drowning (42,546), hazardous transport and accidents (6,660), violence (5,312), lack of healthcare access (2,772).
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Case Studies: Shipwrecks off Libya, capsized boats in the Bay of Bengal, the exploitation of Rohingya children by traffickers, and enforced disappearances in conflict zones.
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Proposed Solutions: Strengthening international maritime rescue obligations, combating human trafficking through cross-border cooperation, providing DNA matching and legal aid for families of the missing.
Each missing refugee represents a life, a hope, and a future cut short. ARSA’s report calls on policymakers to take urgent and humane action.
Click here to read the full report.