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| Migrant Deaths on Mediterranean, Over 5,000 in ’16, Dwarf Past, U.N. Says | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| GENEVA — The number of people who have died trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean in 2016 is one-third higher than in any other year, the United Nations said on Friday. | |
| More than 90 migrants were feared dead after the two latest boat sinkings between Libya and Sicily on Thursday, the United Nations reported, bringing the number of migrants killed in 2016 as they attempted the journey to over 5,000, compared with the 3,771 deaths recorded last year. | More than 90 migrants were feared dead after the two latest boat sinkings between Libya and Sicily on Thursday, the United Nations reported, bringing the number of migrants killed in 2016 as they attempted the journey to over 5,000, compared with the 3,771 deaths recorded last year. |
| “This is the worst annual death toll ever seen,” William Spindler, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency, told reporters in Geneva, adding that 14 people, on average, had drowned in the Mediterranean every day this year. | “This is the worst annual death toll ever seen,” William Spindler, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency, told reporters in Geneva, adding that 14 people, on average, had drowned in the Mediterranean every day this year. |
| At least 55 people and perhaps as many as 70 are believed to have drowned when a rubber dinghy crammed with 120 to 140 people collapsed, tumbling passengers into the icy water. In a second episode, 40 people are missing after a second boat sank. | At least 55 people and perhaps as many as 70 are believed to have drowned when a rubber dinghy crammed with 120 to 140 people collapsed, tumbling passengers into the icy water. In a second episode, 40 people are missing after a second boat sank. |
| The sinkings came on a day when coast guards brought ashore 264 people after rescuing them from two other vessels, Mr. Spindler said. | The sinkings came on a day when coast guards brought ashore 264 people after rescuing them from two other vessels, Mr. Spindler said. |
| The soaring toll has starkly underlined the increasingly perilous conditions faced by migrants fleeing war, hunger and economic hardship, as the number of deaths has risen even though the number of people making the trip has plunged. | The soaring toll has starkly underlined the increasingly perilous conditions faced by migrants fleeing war, hunger and economic hardship, as the number of deaths has risen even though the number of people making the trip has plunged. |
| As of Wednesday, 358,403 people had made it to Europe after crossing the Mediterranean this year, down from more than a million last year. | As of Wednesday, 358,403 people had made it to Europe after crossing the Mediterranean this year, down from more than a million last year. |
| The rising fatality figure attested to the declining seaworthiness of the boats provided by traffickers and to changes in their tactics, Mr. Spindler said. | The rising fatality figure attested to the declining seaworthiness of the boats provided by traffickers and to changes in their tactics, Mr. Spindler said. |
| Rubber dinghies designed to carry 20 to 30 people are habitually packed with more than 100, he noted. To avoid detection, smugglers have also resorted to mass embarkations and to sending larger numbers of people at the same time, making the work of coast guards and rescue vessels more difficult. | Rubber dinghies designed to carry 20 to 30 people are habitually packed with more than 100, he noted. To avoid detection, smugglers have also resorted to mass embarkations and to sending larger numbers of people at the same time, making the work of coast guards and rescue vessels more difficult. |