Over 400 migrant deaths recorded in 2017 - IOM report

More than 400 migrant deaths have so far been recorded in the Mediterranean since January 2017, according to the latest report by the International Organization for Migration, IOM.

In addition to the Mediterranean, North African migrant routes and the road linking Mexico to the United States have been declared dangerous by the IOM.

“It has been 40 days since the beginning of the year, and we have recorded over 400, almost 420 migrants deaths worldwide, or a rate of about 10 people per day,“Says IOM spokesperson Joel Millman

The number is likely to double or even triple during the summer, according to the organization’s spokesman who fears a new death record, especially since IOM has only partial figures currently.

“This is the time of year when the data tends to be less complete, so we are afraid that we have, for example in Latin America, a figure about twice as high as current deaths. This time of year is badly chosen. At this point we still do not have figures from sub-Saharan Africa or the Horn of Africa which are extremely deadly places over the years,“Says Millman

A record number of 7,495 refugee and migrant deaths were registered worldwide in 2016; Nearly a third more than in 2015. The majority perishing in the Mediterranean by drowning, hypothermia or extreme dehydration.

The highest figures come from East Africa, particularly from Eritrea and Ethiopia.