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Europe/Africa: Deaths at Sea
AfricaFocus Bulletin
April 14, 2015 (150414)
(Reposted from sources cited below)
Editor's Note
According to the International Organization of Migration, at least
480 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean since the
beginning of the year. in 2014, according to the UN High Commission
on Refugees, at least 3,500 lost their lives. Yet, says the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, the European Union
program for search-and-rescue at sea is "woefully inadequate," in
comparison to the previous Mare Nostrum program run by Italy, which
ended late last year.
There are, of course, many reasons for the migration, including
conflict and repression in the countries from which people flee,
extreme economic inequality between countries, and the closure of
many legal routes for migration. As long as European and other rich
countries concentrate on closing the doors, while failing to
implement the rights of refugees to asylum and the unambiguous
international law requirement to rescue those in distress at sea,
the death toll will continue to mount.
This AfricaFocus Bulletin contains a press release and a policy
paper from the UN High Commission for Refugees on the crisis, which
is likely to grow enormously over the rest of this year.
Four very useful sources give additional background and context on
these deaths at sea.
Guardian, "UK axes support for Mediterranean migrant rescue
operation," Oct 27, 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/27/uk-mediterranean-migrant-rescue-plan
"Refugees and human rights organisations react with anger as
minister says saving people encourages others to risk voyage."
Foreign Office minister, Lady Anelay: "We do not support planned
search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean," she said, adding
that the government believed there was "an unintended 'pull factor',
encouraging more migrants to attempt the dangerous sea crossing and
thereby leading to more tragic and unnecessary deaths."
Caitlin Chandler, "The Hierarchy of Refugee Stories," Feb. 11, 2015
http://africasacountry.com/the-hierarchy-of-refugee-stories/
"In 2014, at least 40,000 Syrians crossed the Mediterranean to seek
asylum in European countries via Italy. But approximately 35,000
Eritreans also made the voyage – a sharp increase from 10,000 in
2013. ... Yet in sharp contrast to the coverage of Syrian refugees,
the Western English-language media has barely registered the
escalating Eritrean refugee crisis."
Stephanie Maher, "Interrogating the Wave: Media Representations of
African Migrant Youth," Feb 10, 2015
http://www.youthcirculations.com/blog/
Photo essay on media representations of West African boat migrants
that circulated widely in the European and American press during
what was called a "wave" of clandestine arrivals in the Canary
Islands in 2006 and 2007.
Internal Organization for Migration (IOM), Fatal Journeys: Tracking
Lives Lost during Migration. Sep 2014. 216-page book.
http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/free/FatalJourneys_CountingtheUncounted.pdf
IOM estimates
at least 4,000 migrants worldwide died in 2014 while trying to reach
safety. But basic information is lacking, and the numbers are likely
to be far higher. This book analyzes the data from different
migration routes, including the Mediterranean, across the Sahara,
and from the Horn of Africa.
For previous AfricaFocus Bulletins on migration issues, visit
http://www.africafocus.org/migrexp.php
++++++++++++++++++++++end editor's note+++++++++++++++++
UNHCR urges Europe to recreate a robust search and rescue operation
on Mediterranean, as Operation Triton lacks resources and mandate
needed for saving lives
Press Releases, 12 February 2015
http://www.unhcr.org/54dc80f89.html
In light of this week's boat tragedies on the Mediterranean, and the
hundreds of refugee and migrant lives that have been lost, UNHCR is
today calling on the European Union to urgently change its approach
to dealing with sea crossings with a view to ensuring that saving
lives is the top-most priority.
"There can be no doubt left after this week's events that Europe's
Operation Triton is a woefully inadequate replacement for Italy's
Mare Nostrum," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António
Guterres. "The focus has to be about saving lives. We need a robust
search and rescue operation in the Central Mediterranean, not only a
border patrol."
Crossings of the Mediterranean by migrants are age old, but 2014 saw
a dramatic rise in the numbers of refugees undertaking this
dangerous journey–spurred by conflicts in Syria, the Horn of Africa
and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. In all at least 218,000
people crossed the Mediterranean, and 3500 lives were lost. Italy,
which had seen a major boat disaster off its southern Island of
Lampedusa in October 2013, responded by launching its Mare Nostrum
operation–almost certainly saving many hundreds of lives. UNHCR has
repeatedly expressed concerns over the ending of Mare Nostrum
without a similar European search-and-rescue operation to replace
it. On 1 November, Frontex launched Joint Operation Triton, which
primarily focuses on border surveillance, though it may contribute
to rescue efforts.
Concerned that Europe's response to this growing tragedy is not to
step up its rescue efforts, but to phase them out, Mr. Guterres
called on the EU to urgently establish a search and rescue operation
similar in scale and reach to Mare Nostrum. "If not, it is
inevitable that many more people will die trying to reach safety in
Europe."
This week's toll of dead or missing of at least 300 people has
involved four boats, each carrying around 100 people, and all
departing from Libya. 29 deaths were from hypothermia, which in some
instances appears to have occurred aboard Operation Triton vessels.
One of the vessels has still not been found.
UNHCR has called repeatedly on European governments to work in
concert to address the problem of people fleeing wars via the
Mediterranean, with a view to reducing losses of life at sea via
improved surveillance and better search and rescue. It has also
encouraged more focus on addressing the root causes including more
emphasis on political solutions to conflict, better opportunities
for refugees in countries neighbouring conflict zones, the provision
of safe and legal alternatives to dangerous boat journeys, and
strengthened systems for disembarkation and for distinguishing those
who are refugees and those who are not.
Central Mediterranean Sea Initiative (CMSI) Action Plan
UNHCR, Bureau for Europe
March 2015
EU Solidarity for Rescue at Sea and Protection of Refugees and
Migrants
The movement of refugees and migrants by dangerous means across the
Mediterranean Sea towards Europe continues to exact a devastating
toll on human life. Women, children and the elderly are especially
at risk as they embark on these dangerous journeys. Many of those
attempting this dangerous crossing are in need of international
protection.
In 2014 over 218,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the
Mediterranean Sea, many fleeing violence, conflict and persecution
in Syria, Eritrea, Iraq, and elsewhere. Over 3,500 women, men and
children have died or have gone missing in their attempt to reach
Europe. These tragedies illustrate that existing mechanisms and
arrangements are not sufficient to prevent deaths at sea. A
comprehensive approach is needed to address more effectively this
dramatic and complex situation. Urgent and concerted action is
needed, involving a broad variety of actors.
UNHCR has proposed 12 concrete steps aimed at saving lives focusing
on three main areas of action:
I. Steps within the European Union (EU)
II. Steps in collaboration with countries of transit and first
asylum
III. Steps in collaboration with countries of origin
I. Steps within the European Union (EU)
1. Strengthen Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.
It is important to highlight the humanitarian nature of rescue at
sea and that the principle of non-refoulement must be respected.
International law of the sea establishes clear obligations to rescue
those in distress at sea. UNHCR calls for robust and predictable SAR
operations along Mediterranean routes. UNHCR welcomed Mare Nostrum –
the Italian Navy led rescue operation – and expressed concerns over
its ending without a similar operation to replace it. SAR activities
need to be initiated wherever there are indications that a vessel or
the conditions of the people on board, do not allow for safe travel,
creating a risk that people may perish at sea. On 1 November 2014,
Frontex launched a new Operation, Joint Operation Triton, which is
being carried out in the Central Mediterranean. While Triton has
contributed to SAR operations, this border surveillance operation
does not have the resources, scope, and mandate to carry out the SAR
required. UNHCR calls for further concerted action by the EU and
Member States on SAR operations based on solidarity and joint
support with the objective of avoiding further loss of lives at sea.
2. Encourage commercial shipmasters to undertake rescue where
required.
UNHCR commends the shipmasters and the crews of the many commercial
vessels, which have carried out rescue operations, saving many
lives, and is well aware of the fact that these operations often put
them under great strain. Steps must be taken to minimize financial
and other costs for those engaged in such rescue operations. States
should consider setting up a scheme to compensate shipping companies
for losses incurred while rescuing people in distress at sea.
3. Establish more effective and predictable mechanisms for
identifying places of safety for the disembarkation of rescued
refugees and migrants. It is important to develop effective and
predictable mechanisms for identifying without delay places of
safety for the rapid disembarkation in Europe of refugees and
migrants, especially those rescued in international waters. Possible
measures to develop a stronger joint EU response, by capitalizing on
the mandate of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and through
shared responsibility amongst Member States, could include:
identification of a place of safety for rapid disembarkation;
establishment of a screening mechanism to identify those individuals
who may be in need of international protection and/ or have specific
needs (women at risk, unaccompanied children, victims of torture,
violence or trafficking); de-linking the disembarkation from the
follow-up; and transfer of those requesting asylum to a reception
facility with capacity to receive them, which would not necessarily
be in the country of disembarkation.
4. Enhance reception facilities and establish additional facilities
with access to urgent care and assistance/. For people seeking
international protection, cooperative arrangements might be explored
among Member States to ensure sufficient capacity and treatment in
accordance with the Reception Conditions Directive with due regard
to the needs of families, women and children. With the increase in
arrivals, reception capacity in some Member States is overstretched,
negatively impacting reception conditions. Member States receiving
greater number of arrivals will need support to help improve
reception conditions. Additional first reception facilities could
potentially be established with EU support in Member States
receiving sea arrivals, where needed. Such arrangements must ensure
the early identification of individuals with specific needs, and
their timely referral to appropriate services and adequate reception
arrangements. Information and counselling services, including legal
advice about the right to apply for international protection or
other relevant options, rights and obligations in general and, in
particular, on the Dublin Regulation, as well as information on
possible assistance for voluntary return, needs to be made
available. Wider responsibility-sharing arrangements to provide
additional reception capacity in other Member States could also be
explored.
5. Establish profiling and referral mechanisms , including access to
fair and efficient asylum procedures for those in need of
international protection. Those who wish to apply for international
protection shall be given swift access to effective asylum
procedures. UNHCR has developed a proposal for an “EU response
package for protection at sea” aimed at supporting Member States to
address operational challenges and find better responsibility
sharing mechanisms. It builds on and complements actions suggested
in the communication from the European Commission to the European
Parliament and the Council on the work of the Task Force
Mediterranean, including several measures led by EASO. As part of
this, UNHCR is suggesting that the Dublin Regulation be fully
implemented including a proactive and efficient use of all criteria,
such as family reunification, unaccompanied children, and
discretionary clauses. These are tools which have been designed by
EU Member States and should be used effectively.
6. Facilitate access to durable solutions for persons found in need
of international protection and the establishment of a pilot
relocation programme. To facilitate an equitable distribution within
the EU, mechanisms, such as intra-EU relocation, or resettlement to
non-EU countries, especially for those with family links in these
countries, could be established. A pilot project could be set up, in
consultation with Member States and EASO, initially for Syrian
refugees rescued at sea and recognized in Italy and Greece. This
pilot project would seek a better distribution among all Member
States in the EU and also contribute to reduce the risk of
trafficking and exploitation linked to the current onward movements
within the EU. Additional efforts are also needed to ensure that
solid national integration support programmes are developed, and
that refugees receive the support they need to contribute to our
societies.
7. Provide support for the timely return in safety and dignity of
those found not to be in need of international protection or without
compelling humanitarian needs. Collective practical cooperation
efforts and European funding could facilitate the return of persons
determined not to be in need of international protection to their
countries of origin.
II. Steps in Collaboration with Countries of Transit and of First
Asylum
8. Reinforce the gathering, analysis and sharing of data on
movements by sea in the Mediterranean region. These will be aimed at
increasing knowledge of routes, motives and profiles of arrivals as
a basis for building shared assessments and responses.
9. Further develop capacity and institution-building in countries of
transit and of first asylum. Countries of transit and of first
asylum should be encouraged and supported to fulfill their
obligations under international law. This could include
reinforcement of protection strategies in such countries and
coordination of efforts to identify and prosecute persons involved
in smuggling and trafficking, including through the EU Horn of
Africa Migration Route Initiative. Also critical is the need to
increase support to local integration through formal education,
vocational training and livelihood support. It is also important to
support joint initiatives with North African authorities, in
relation to asylum procedures, protection sensitive border
management, improvement of equipment, and exchange of civil servants
working on these issues.
UNHCR values the support that the EU has been providing to a range
of initiatives, such as the recently launched Regional Development
and Protection Programmes to increase protection space and develop
viable and functioning asylum systems, while supporting refugee host
communities.
UNHCR is working in many countries of transit and of first asylum to
improve and strengthen the protection environment, ensure protective
sensitive border management, and increase protection of populations
with specific needs, such as women at risk, unaccompanied children,
and victims of torture, violence or trafficking. In Yemen, Egypt,
Sudan and Ethiopia for example, UNHCR is implementing a special
multi-year child protection regional initiative, Live, Learn and
Play Safe, which started in March 2014 and combines a regional
approach with country-specific interventions. One of the main
objectives of this project is to reduce the number of children
engaged in secondary movements and/or becoming victims of
trafficking and smuggling. Proposals include strengthening national
child protection systems, enhancing alternative care arrangements,
introducing particular educational programmes, creating livelihood
opportunities and facilitating family reunification.
10. Implement mass information programmes along transit routes aimed
at informing people of the risks of onward movements and engage in a
dialogue with community - based diaspora organizations. Measures
aimed at preventing harmful onward movements are needed, including
through targeted information campaigns. These could be undertaken
through local/international media in countries along migratory
routes in key locations. Structured and informal dialogue with
community-based diaspora organizations, as well as, other NGOs in
Europe linked to the refugees arriving by sea, could help in
gathering and disseminating accurate and trustworthy information on
the risks of irregular onward movements and the need to combat
smuggling, trafficking and exploitation. In order to be effective,
these messages have to be complemented by the dissemination of
information on legal avenues to reach Europe. UNHCR will soon
implement two mass information projects aimed at establishing an
electronic platform as a resource-base for local and international
information campaigns. These projects are mainly directed at
Eritrean, Somali and Syrian refugees, and will involve the
respective diasporas in Europe, as well as the respective
communities in countries of first asylum.
11. Create legal alternatives to dangerous irregular movements ,
including resettlement , facilitated access to family reunification
and other protection entry mechanisms.
Increasing legal alternatives to such dangerous voyages could reduce
the incentives for people to embark on risky irregular travel. The
use of humanitarian visas, private sponsorship programmes, protected
entry procedures and enhanced family reunification need to be
further explored. In specific cases, some Member States in the past
have provided visas at embassies to enable people in need of
protection to travel to European destinations. The potential to
further develop such arrangements could also be considered. UNHCR is
also ready to explore conditions under which UNHCR, EU and Member
States could support the processing of more refugees for
resettlement and other forms of admission from a designated pilot
place in North or East Africa. Any such arrangements would require
consultation and agreement with States, being in accordance with
international law and prior commitment by Member States to offer
solutions to persons in need of international protection. Solutions
should also be explored for people found not to be in need of
international protection, including safe and orderly returns.
Efforts to resettle refugees from countries of first asylum as well
as those in transit countries need to be enhanced. Member States can
play a crucial role by increasing quotas for annual arrivals, which
is supported by EU funds. Simplification of resettlement processes
may also be required, such as accepting cases through dossier
submissions and using innovative approaches to interviewing such as
Skype or videoconferencing. A potential additional track for
resettlement to the EU is the establishment by Member States of
private sponsorship programmes, which could enable refugees to be
resettled with the support of private citizens and other interested
groups. Private sponsorship can take place alongside or in hybrid
arrangements with government-assisted resettlement programmes, and
can contribute to the unity of refugee families, in particular when
they enable refugees to reunite with extended family members who may
not otherwise qualify for admission under family reunification
criteria. UNHCR is currently exploring such possibilities in
consultation with partners in Europe.
As mentioned in step 9, a pilot project to promote and facilitate
family reunification of refugees in Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan with
family members in Europe is being developed as part of the child
protection regional initiative Live, Learn and Play Safe. This
project seeks to facilitate procedures for family reunification in
European countries by identifying refugees who have the right to
family reunification, with a view to enable them to actually avail
themselves of this right. It will also streamline the procedures
through an enhanced cooperation among the European embassies in the
region.
III. Steps in Collaboration with Countries of Origin
UNHCR is concerned that making legal departure from countries of
origin more difficult will feed into the smuggling and trafficking
networks, as they will become the only option for departure. To be
able to make any real headway on the issue of sea crossings,
credible alternatives must be offered to the people before
attempting any part of the dangerous journey while bringing real
relief to host countries.
12. Continue to support relief and development programmes in
countries of origin to address humanitarian , human rights and
development needs. Continued investment is needed in humanitarian,
cooperation and development aid programmes in the countries and
regions from which people move irregularly, including Sub-Saharan
Africa and North Africa. The EU, its Member States and other
European countries have invested significantly in programmes aimed
at improving humanitarian, socio- economic conditions, stability and
development in countries of origin in Africa and elsewhere over
recent years, which need to be strengthened. A human rights dialogue
on selected specific aspects such as child protection mechanisms
could also be explored with some countries of origin.
AfricaFocus Bulletin is an independent electronic publication
providing reposted commentary and analysis on African issues, with a
particular focus on U.S. and international policies. AfricaFocus
Bulletin is edited by William Minter.
AfricaFocus Bulletin can be reached at africafocus@igc.org. Please
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