Some 2,500 life jackets used by refugees have been laid outside Parliament today to represent those who died on their way to Europe.
According to new figures the World is on course to register the highest number of migrant deaths this year, with pressure mounting on governments to do something about it.
Forecasts from analysts at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) indicate that the number of fatalities among refugees will pass the landmark figure of 10,000 in 2016.
This week, summits on migration will discuss the millions of people forced to flee their homes as a result of conflicts and political crises. Theresa May will attend a leaders’ summit hosted by Barack Obama tomorrow intended to raise funds for refugee initiatives and expanded resettlement programmes.
Julia Black, of the charity Missing Migrants Project, told the Observer: “Last year we had more than 5,000 deaths across the world. This year we’re already at more than 4,000, but outside of the Mediterranean and Europe the information is so poor we really think it’s a gross underestimate.
“This year we’ll reach that 5,000 total again realistically, but I would expect the real figure would be twice as much. The order of magnitude is greater than anything we’ve seen.”
