14 people die every day in the Mediterranean Sea in 2016: UN
Xinhua, December 28, 2016 Adjust font size:
An average of 14 people died every day on their way across the Mediterranean Sea in 2016, the highest number ever recorded, said UN Spokesperson's Office on Tuesday.
The total number of people that lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea in 2016 topped 5,000, said the Office while citing statistics of UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
UNHCR has warned the situation highlights the urgent need for countries to increase pathways for admission of refugees, such as resettlement, private sponsorship, family reunification and student scholarship schemes.
In 2015, over a million people crossed the Mediterranean, of which 3771 casualties were recorded. Enditem