Thousands of people every year choose to navigate the Central Mediterranean since it stands as the world’s most dangerous migration path towards Europe. People migrate through this perilous route because they are forced to flee from war zones along with the effects of conflict, climate change, and economic difficulties. The dangers of the journey are known to migrants and refugees, but they choose to accept the risks because they have no other option for securing a secure and safe future. Human beings continue to risk their lives through dangerous voyages even though worldwide awareness exists about these risks in their pursuit of a better existence. The future of this hazardous migration remains uncertain while the international community struggles to find proper solutions for its humanitarian aspects. This brief reflects on the dangers of the Mediterranean Sea route and the international reaction to the crisis which keeps claiming life every year.
The Central Mediterranean route (the route from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia to Italy and Malta) has long been the deadliest migration route in the world. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), nearly 2,500 people died or went missing in the central region as they attempted to cross the stretch in 2023. The high mortality rates during this migration stem primarily from the absence of both safe and legal ways for people seeking European protection. The right to asylum exists in international law but European governments prioritize border control policies over creating legal migration channels. People who flee their homes encounter no other option except to take unsafe routes as they seek a better life. In 2023, over 157,000 people arrived in Italy by sea, primarily from countries such as Guinea, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Bangladesh, and Egypt. Economic conditions in North Africa particularly Tunisia and Egypt have worsened thus leading to increased migration numbers. The future looks bleak to numerous young people throughout these countries thus they attempt dangerous migrations. Tunisia has taken over Libya’s position as the leading North African country from which migrants conduct their Mediterranean Sea crossings. Migrants who chose the Central Mediterranean route departed primarily from Tunisia when recorded in the year 2023 with statistics showing that 62% of migrants left from the country’s shores. Thousands have chosen the “Tunisian Corridor” to navigate toward Italy with a special focus on reaching the island of Lampedusa.
Over 2,200 people died or disappeared in 2024 on the Mediterranean Sea route. A tragic shipwreck near Lampedusa on New Year’s Eve of 2023 highlighted the ongoing risks as migrant boats continue to face dangerous crossings. Despite a significant drop in migrant arrivals—down 60% from 2023—the tragedy has largely resulted from continuous strict border control measures rather than safer migration conditions. A minor makes up one in five of the migrants traveling this dangerous route; many of them are escaping poverty, crime, and instability back home. Many of these victims are children who were denied the opportunity to live their lives in search of safety and a better future. The fact that a parent would decide to travel such a dangerous distance emphasizes how dire their circumstances are in the nations they are escaping. More than 28,000 people have died or “gone missing” across the central Mediterranean since 2014, according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), making it the world’s worst migration route.
Migration restrictions implemented by the European Union cause migrants to choose longer and riskier journey options. The restrictive measures create opportunities for human traffickers and smugglers to exploit desperate migrants. The migration patterns show that Afghan migrants choose to cross Latin American routes while Tunisians use Western Balkan regions as they attempt to reach European territory. European states now devote their resources to blocking migration flows instead of providing humanitarian assistance. European countries have expanded partnership agreements with Tunisia and Libya to stop migrants before they enter European borders. Tunisian law enforcement agencies stopped more than 75,000 migrants in their attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea during 2023 which exceeded the total number they stopped in 2022. The Asylum and Migration Pact approved by the EU in December 2023 functions to manage migration yet numerous doubts have emerged regarding its effects on asylum seekers and refugees.
The far-right government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni implemented laws that prohibit search-and-rescue NGOs from operating without strict limitations in Italy. The reduced number of rescue operations results in additional deaths of migrants in the sea. The EU and Italy invest funds in both Tunisia and Egypt to enforce stop orders against migrant departures from their territories. The Italian government encountered legal obstacles when it tried to redirect asylum seekers to Albania. The reduced migrant arrivals stand in direct opposition to widespread human rights violations that result from these policies. A large number of children among Mediterranean migrants seek refuge from conflict poverty and violent conditions. The lack of funding for reception facilities together with inadequate safe migration routes and search-and-rescue programs will result in increased mortality among migrants. The EU Migration Pact aims to guide future policies but its full implementation will start in 2026 while some of the European governments still show reluctance to protect migrants. There are going to be more tragic outcomes from the route unless the authorities choose to prioritize humanitarian measures instead of deterrence methods. Search-and-rescue operations need strengthening and migration through legal channels must be established to stop more people from perishing at sea.
To address the crisis, more protection measures are needed to prevent loss of life and provide safe migration options. Governments of both sending and receiving countries should come together and work to improve legal protection, enhance self-reliance opportunities, and provide emergency assistance to vulnerable people on the move. Without significant changes to migration policies, the Mediterranean will continue to be a deadly route for thousands seeking safety and a better life. A human-centered approach, focusing on protection and legal pathways, is crucial to addressing this ongoing humanitarian crisis. The continuation of dangerous migration across the Mediterranean is a reflection of unresolved crises in migrants’ home countries as well. Unless significant policy shifts are made to prioritize humanitarian protection and legal migration channels, thousands will continue to risk their lives.
– Tahia Afra Jannati is a Research Intern at the KRF Center for Bangladesh and Global Affairs (CBGA).