“Tackling the situation more comprehensively”
UN: Deaths in the Mediterranean must not become normal
October 2, 2023, 11:04 p.m
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The number of refugees who die on the dangerous route across the Mediterranean is increasing significantly. The new head of the UN migration organization Amy Pope is alarmed and is pursuing a new tactic to better manage migration. Private companies should also play a role in this.
The new head of the UN Migration Organization (IOM) Amy Pope has expressed concern about the increasing number of deaths in the Mediterranean. “Our biggest concern is that the deaths in the Mediterranean become normal,” said the American. She promised to work with governments to find solutions.
“If we really want to prevent people from crossing the Mediterranean on rickety boats and dying, we need to address the situation much more comprehensively,” she said. Pope wants to build partnerships with private companies to better manage migration. The former White House adviser took office on October 1 as the first woman to head the IOM – at a time when the number of people displaced worldwide soared to a record high. At the same time, the debate about illegal immigration is causing international tensions.
Last week, the Italian government criticized the Federal Republic for supporting sea rescue organizations with up to two million euros this year. Tesla founder and billionaire Elon Musk has also criticized the German-supported rescue of boat refugees in the Mediterranean.
The German Foreign Ministry rejected the statements and defended its policy. Pope said migration benefits economies, particularly wealthy countries with aging populations and low birth rates.