…As deaths, disappearances rise by 111 per cent in 1Q 2026

THE International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has said that migrant deaths have more than doubled along the Central Mediterranean route and tripled on the Eastern Mediterranean corridor in the first four months of 2026, despite a sharp decline in European arrivals.

New IOM data released Wednesday, revealed that 821 people died or went missing along the Central Mediterranean, a 111 per cent increase compared to 2025 while arrivals dropped by 46 per cent to 8,577.

The UN agency noted that more than half of these fatalities occurred in January alone when Cyclone Harry struck the region.

Similarly, the Eastern Mediterranean recorded 244 deaths, representing a 259 per cent rise, with many fatalities linked to maritime disasters near Crete.

Reacting to the development, IOM Deputy Director General, Ugochi Daniels, warned that the drop in successful crossings does not equate to improved safety for migrants.

According to her, “Fewer arrivals do not mean safer journeys.

“Behind every one of these numbers is a family waiting for news that never comes. As journeys grow longer and more dangerous, saving lives at sea and on land remains a shared responsibility, and one that no country can meet alone.”

Emphasising the need for evidence based interventions, Daniels explained that “Good data is not a substitute for solutions, but there are no solutions without it.

“When everyone is working from the same clear picture, better decisions follow.”

In a statement signed by the Senior Media Communications Officer in Dakar, Senegal, Ada Adana Francois, the agency noted that severe weather, conflict, economic pressure, and changing policies have significantly reshaped migration journeys globally.

The IOM report also highlighted that arrivals to Spain via the Western African Atlantic route plummeted by 78 per cent to 2,276.

However, departure points have shifted further south along the West African coast, thereby lengthening sea crossings and escalating the risks people face.