United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) on Wednesday reported that approximately half of all the cases of violence faced by African migrants crossing to the Mediterranean coast are committed by law enforcers.
“In 47% of the cases, the victims reported the perpetrators of violence are law enforcement authorities, whereas, in the past, we believe that it was mainly smugglers and traffickers,” UNHCR special envoy for the central Mediterranean, Vincent Cochetel, said during a news conference in Geneva.
According to the UNHCR report, 1,750 people had died trying to get to the sea in 2018 and 2019, but Cochetel stated that the real figures were expected to be higher.
“That is just the visible tip of the iceberg. There are many families looking for their loved ones along the routes, and there is no answer to give them,” Cochetel said.
UNHCR and the Danish Refugee Council’s Mixed Migration Centre (MMC)’s report stated thousands of refugees and migrants suffering from abuse, torture, gender-based violence, and even death while claiming the culprits of violence being law enforcement authorities.
The UNHCR and MMC’s report is based on about 16,000 interviews with refugees and migrants.