STOCKHOLM / ROME, Dec 6 2019 (IPS)* – While opening a newspaper or watching a TV program we are every day made aware of the plights of irregular migrants. Some recent examples among many – on 24 October, 39 Chinese nationals were found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex. They had apparently frozen to death within a refrigerator container with temperatures as low as -25C (-13F).
This while tragedies occur almost daily on the Mediterranean Sea. On 26 November, a rescue vessel found a boat almost completely sunken.
It had three dead bodies aboard. Fifty-five migrants were saved.
Three of them were in a critical condition, and one died after reaching Melilla in Spain, where the migrants were brought in.
Three children were among the survivors, though a further ten individuals were reported missing. Nowadays, such news items pass by almost imperceptibly.
Tripoli, 22 November 2019 (IOM)* –The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is alarmed by the latest developments in Libya where, in the span of 48 hours, at least nine boats carrying more than 600 migrants have been discovered on the central Mediterranean route. A tenth boat arrived yesterday (21/11) in Lampedusa, Italy.
This apparent spike in departures from Libya comes at a time when the capital, Tripoli, and surrounding areas are witnessing some of the heaviest shelling since the conflict erupted in April.
Since the beginning of the year, the UN Migration Agency has carried out over one million health consultations for displaced and conflict-affected Yemenis and migrants struggling to reach the help they need, the organization announced on Friday [15 November 2019]. (*)
IOM/Olivia Headon | A young child is attended to by an IOM worker in Yemem. IOM are providing lifesaving health care to conflict affected communities, displaced people and migrants in Yemen, while strengthening public health facilities.
Courageous insight on a vital issue that European politicians and the UN fear to evoke.
Anthony Judge
Deadly silence
It is curious to note how systematically international authorities and political leadership have avoided any discussion of future migration from Africa — beyond the immediate future.
This includes the careful crafting by statistical agencies — typically in the habit of offering estimates on other matters through to 2050, or even to the end of the century.
This peculiar situation is reviewed in detail in a separate document.
San Jose, 27 August 2019 (IOM)* –-The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is currently launching five campaigns to prevent the risks of irregular migration and encourage informed decision making among potential young Central American migrants.
All campaigns are based on IOM’s experience in Asia with the IOMX project, which uses the Communication for Development (C4D) methodology. Photo: IOM.
12 August 2019 (FAO)* — It is often said that young people are the future. However, when we talk about rural youth, the reality is that not many see a future in agriculture or in their places of origin. Lack of access to land, technology, credit or productive resources push many rural youth to consider migration, often to urban areas, as their only option to achieve a better future.
Cairo, 2 August 2019 (IOM)* – “Hijrah Talk”, a talk show using digital platforms to challenge misconceptions around migration, was launched on 29 July by IOM’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
From left: IOM Egypt Chief of Mission Laurent de Boeck, IOM Senior Regional Liaison and Policy Officer Kristina Mejo, and IOM Head Media and Communications Division and Spokesperson Leonard Doyle at the launch of “Hijrah Talk” last 29 July by IOM’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Throughout human history, migration and climate have always been connected, but in the modern era, the impacts of the man-made climate crisis are likely to extensively change the patterns of human settlement.*
Dina Ionesco is the head of the Migration, Environment and Climate Change Division at the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), which has been at the forefront of efforts to study the links between migration, the environment and climate.
Geneva, 26 July 2019 (IOM)* –A new report out today (26/07) examines the connection between migration and modern slavery and focuses on which migrants are most vulnerable to being forced into modern slavery, and under what circumstances.
Prepared by Minderoo Foundation’s Walk Free initiative and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the Alliance 8.7 Action Group on Migration, the report provides recommendations on key steps governments can take to address this risk.
The report confirms certain sub-groups of migrants are at particular risk.
HUMAN WRONGS WATCH 