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"Mediterranean Is Becoming A Sea Of Misery For Immigrants" UN Chief

21.04.2015 13:52

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the Mediterranean is becoming "a sea of misery" for immigrants and urged the European Union to increase support for rescue efforts. Reacting to reports that as many as 700 people may have drowned after a ship carrying hundreds of migrants sank in the Mediterranean.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the Mediterranean is becoming "a sea of misery" for immigrants and urged the European Union to increase support for rescue efforts.

Reacting to reports that as many as 700 people may have drowned after a ship carrying hundreds of migrants sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday night, Ban said, "Italy, Greece and Malta have borne the biggest burden in terms of rescue and arrival operations. I urge the European Union to show solidarity by accelerating its support."

He said, "The death of hundreds of thousands of people and death of hundreds of migrants off the coast of Libya is not only deeply saddening – it should shock the global conscience. The Mediterranean is fast becoming a sea of misery for thousands of migrants. More than twice migrants have died at sea the past year than on the Titanic."

In a written statement issued Sunday, Ban said, "this tragedy is just the latest in a line of incidents in the last week, in which hundreds of other migrants and refugees are reported to have died. These are urgent reminders of the critical need for a robust search and rescue capacity in the Mediterranean. The Secretary-General encourages European Member States and the European Union to accelerate their ongoing efforts to comprehensively address the plight of those seeking refuge within their borders.

"With record numbers fleeing war and persecution, more people are trying to reach Europe by boat and more lives are being lost. At least 3,500 people died in 2014 and if today's figures are confirmed, they bring the number of those who have died so far in 2015 to some 1,600. This makes the Mediterranean the world's deadliest route used by asylum seekers and migrants.

"The international response to this must be comprehensive and collective. The challenge concerns not only improved rescue at sea and access to protection. It is how to ensure the right to asylum of the growing number of people worldwide fleeing war who need refuge and safe haven. Their journeys are fraught with risks including discrimination, violence and exploitation, and they urgently need our protection during their hour of greatest need.

"The Secretary-General recognizes the heavy impact the arrival of so many migrants has on Italy and is grateful to the Government of Italy for all its efforts. The Secretary-General appeals to the international community for solidarity and burden-sharing in the face of this crisis."

SHOTLIST:
20 APRIL 2015 NEW YORK

UN headquarters
UN meeting room 4
Ban arriving
Delegates

SOUNDBITE (English) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
"The death of hundreds of thousands of people and death of hundreds of migrants off the coast of Libya is not only deeply saddening – it should shock the global conscience. The Mediterranean is fast becoming a sea of misery for thousands of migrants. More than twice migrants have died at sea the past year than on the Titanic."

SOUNDBITE (English) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
Italy, Greece and Malta have borne the biggest burden in terms of rescue and arrival operations. I urge the European Union to show solidarity by accelerating its support."

DURATION: 01:06



 
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