Surge in Deadly Land Routes: Migrants Face Perils in Sahara En Route to Europe

The UN and partners report an increase in African migrants heading north toward Europe through dangerous Sahara routes. Criminal gangs exploit these migrants, subjecting them to inhumane treatment. New conflicts in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Sudan are exacerbating the situation, highlighting insufficient international response and protection gaps.

A surge in deadly land routes for migrants in Africa has caught the attention of the United Nations and its partners. Many migrants and refugees are now making perilous journeys northward toward the Mediterranean and Europe, facing extreme dangers such as enslavement, organ removal, rape, and kidnapping by criminal gangs in the Sahara Desert.

A recent report released by the UN refugee and migration agencies, along with the Mixed Migration Centre research group, reveals that land routes in Africa are twice as deadly as the notoriously dangerous Mediterranean sea lanes. The report highlights that rising conflicts and instability in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Sudan are driving an increase in these risky journeys.

Despite many European politicians stoking anti-immigrant sentiments, the flow of migrants continues, driven by conflict, economic hardship, repression, and climate change. Human trafficking and other abuses are rampant, and the report underscores the urgent need for international action, pointing out significant gaps in protection and assistance for those making these hazardous trips.

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