Pope Francis has issued a plea for compassion and immediate action after another deadly migrant shipwreck claimed 41 lives in the Mediterranean.
On Thursday, August 10, the Pope expressed his sorrow and urged the public to “not remain indifferent to these tragedies, and let us pray for the victims and their families”.
According to the survivors, there were 45 people, including three children, in the vessel. The tragedy occurred between August 3 and 4.
The Mediterranean crossing stands as one of the world’s most hazardous migrant routes.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported more than 1,800 people have been reported dead or missing along the Central Mediterranean route so far in 2023.
IOM said the route accounts for more than 75 percent of the victims in the entire Mediterranean over the past 10 years.
In a Vatican News report, the Italian authorities revealed that more than 90,000 people have reached Italy this year after crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The number is more than double compared to the same time period last year.
Migrants undertaking this treacherous journey originate from diverse regions, including nations plagued by conflict, insecurity, drought, and famine. The Mediterranean route also serves as an escape for refugees fleeing persecution and violence.
On August 10, Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, called for better management of migration and urged nations to “invest more in organized, coordinated rescue at sea”.
“Much must be addressed to better manage migration and refugee flows: root causes, responses in transit countries, trafficking, safe routes,” he said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
