United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for “expansion and diversification” of safe migratory routes and for “greater international support” to ensure that migrating is “a choice, not a necessity,” the Europe Press reported Sunday . .
On December 18, the UN celebrates International Migrants’ Day, noting that 51,000 fewer people have died crossing migration routes over the past eight years.
According to that Spanish news agency, more than 281 million people were international migrants in 2020, while more than 59 million people were living as internally displaced persons at the end of 2021.
“Migration is a powerful engine of economic growth, dynamism and understanding. But if it is not regulated, if it takes place through the most dangerous routes, the cruel realm of traffickers, the toll is terrible,” UN Secretary-General António lamented. Guterres, quoted by Europa Press.
The UN also recalled thousands of missing persons on land and sea, each “a sister, a brother, a child, a mother or a father” and launched a call for human rights to be respected “without any discrimination as to the conditions of their forced, voluntary or authorized displacement”.
According to the UN, migrants have proved to be a source of prosperity, innovation and sustainable development for countries of origin, transit and host countries.
Their financial contribution is a lifeline for families and stimulates local markets, especially those in low- and middle-income countries, while their role in the labor market is invaluable, as evidenced by the first-line response to the pandemic.
Also on Migrant’s Day, the Non-Governmental Organization Plan International revealed that more than 100 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced from their homes and that nearly 40% of children are victims of conflict and violence.
“Migration and forced displacement have a gender impact, with women and girls increasing their role in the family at the expense of their education, as well as having greater difficulties accessing food, water, latrines, hygiene and reproductive health care “, points out that NGO in a statement quoted by Europa Press.
According to Plan Internacional, this year the number of unaccompanied and separated children increased by 81% compared to the previous year and 857,000 people were forcibly displaced.
“Refugee and migrant children and youth are at increased risk of violence, exploitation and neglect. Girls are discriminated against based on their age and gender and are exposed to serious harm from sexual abuse and gender-based violence, child marriage and teenage and unwanted pregnancies,” warned Plan International CEO Concepcion Lopez.
In the future, Plan International predicts, the climate crisis will also determine global migration movements.
“The World Bank estimates that climate impacts could force the internal displacement of 143 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America by 2050. In Africa alone, the number of drought-related migrants could increase by 22 million by 2059 increase.” he told Plan Internacional.
That NGO also recalled the drought affecting the Horn of Africa and that the red alert of hunger is still active in eight priority countries, including Somalia.
Unprecedented levels of food insecurity also affect Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia, the latter of which has displaced 4.5 million people due to conflict and drought, already affecting the livelihoods of eight million people.
Source: DN
