The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday that at least 1,457 displaced people died or went missing in the Americas in 2022.
With 686 recorded deaths and disappearances, the US-Mexico border accounts for more than half of the cases. Although this number is slightly lower than last year, it still makes it the world's "most dangerous road route" according to the IOM.
Clothing and shoes were left behind at the US-Mexico border. Photo: Reuters
The Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts bordering the U.S. are particularly dangerous. The IOM reports that the number of reported deaths there is higher than in the much larger Sahara Desert.
According to the United Nations, documenting the deaths and disappearances of migrants – especially in remote areas – is difficult due to a lack of data from official sources.
Marcelo Pisani, IOM's South America Regional Director, said: "The fact that we know so little about the migrants who disappear in the Americas is a harsh reality."
IOM is calling on countries in the region to “act based on data to ensure access to safe, regular migration routes.”
The IOM stated that the figures in its report "are the lowest estimates currently available." However, the total number of deaths and missing persons has more than doubled since 2018.
Migration across the Americas has increased in recent years. Figures from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) show that movement between countries in Latin America and the Caribbean has surged particularly: from 5.3 million migrants in 2010 to 11.3 million in 2020.
North America remains the primary destination for migrants from Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2022, more than 2.5 million people crossed the southern border of the United States.
Mai Anh (according to Reuters, DW)
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