The UN migration agency, IOM, on Tuesday called for urgent international action after ten migrant bodies were found washed ashore near Egypt’s Mediterranean city of Marsa Matruh.
The International Organization for Migration believes the individuals departed from neighboring Libya, emphasizing these deaths are “yet another painful reminder of the high cost of irregular migration.”
The IOM stressed the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to provide inclusive, safe, and regular pathways for all migrants.
According to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, over 32,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean Sea since 2014, with the actual number likely higher due to missing persons.
The agency stated, “Behind each life lost is a story: broken dreams, grieving families, and futures that will now never be realized.”
The IOM praised Egyptian authorities for their “humane and dignified response” and application of “highest standards of International Humanitarian Law.”
The agency reiterated its call for global cooperation to tackle the root causes of irregular migration and protect lives.
