A recent statistic released by the UNHCR revealed that Libya is the primary departure point for irregular migrants to Italy by sea. 89% of the total migrants who arrived in Italy in 2024 embarked from the Libyan Coast.
The number of migrants who reached the Italian coast in December 2024 was 2,780, most of which are from Libya. This number represents a 66% decrease compared to November, which saw the arrival of 8,124 migrants.
In a related context, the director of the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Regina De Dominicis, expressed her concern about the rising death toll in the Mediterranean Sea. 2,200 people lost their lives during 2024, including hundreds of children.
It is worth noting that 2023 was the deadliest year on the migration route across the central Mediterranean, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with more than 2,500 migrants losing their lives in hopes of reaching Europe.