Stricter Enforcement Pushes Migrants to Smugglers, IOM Warns

International Organization for Migration reported 8,000 deaths or missing on migration routes, but true toll likely higher.
Funding shortfalls hindered IOM's humanitarian access and tracking.
Stricter enforcement in Europe and the U.S. pushes migrants to smugglers and traffickers.
Mediterranean had 2,108 deaths, Horn of Africa 922 (mostly Ethiopians).
Amy Pope, IOM Director General, called for safe, regular migration routes.
Mediterranean deaths in 2026 reached 606 by Feb 24, 2025 total 7,667 from 9,200 in 2024.

Migration | Humanitarian | Deaths

Ethiopia | Yemen | Gulf States

Amy Pope

6 days ago