Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/290775
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 APRIL 2014 4 News JURGEN BALZAN A study on migration flows shows that 6% of migrants die at sea near Malta and Lampedusa. Last year, two separate incidents in the matter of a few days shocked Eu- rope with hundreds of migrants los- ing their lives in the Mediterranean. The Migrants Files, a project by a European conglomerate of journal- ists, aims at precisely assessing the number of men, women and children that died as a result of EU Member States migration policies. The study concludes that the number of sourced dead and missing migrants was 50% higher than current estimates. A reliable overview of migrant deaths has so far been difficult if not impossible to reach, however the Migrants Files, compiled by a con- sortium of more than 10 European journalists, now offers the most com- prehensive and rigorous database on migrant fatalities ever assembled. And their assessment is shocking. Over the last 14 years, more than 23,000 people have died or vanished attempting to enter Europe, the study shows. The number of migrant fatalities on their journey to Europe is much higher than previously believed. Earlier estimates ranged between 17,000 and 19,000, however this was based on a longer period. The new study shows that mortal- ity rates between migration routes vary widely, ranging from 2% in the Canaries to 6% near Malta and Lampedusa. Moreover, it concludes that EU member states constantly close the routes with low mortality, pushing migrants towards the more danger- ous ones. The damning study also points out that member states and EU institu- tions do not collect data on migrant deaths. When it comes to talking of "lives saved" and security of migrations, politicians and border patrol agen- cies "engage in shameless lies and whitewashing of their activities and programs, renaming surveillance and push-back activity into search and rescue operations," the project says. The Migrants' Files data indicates that migration flows vary between sea and land routes according to sea- son, local conflicts and war zones, as well as the preferences of human traffickers. In recent years, the Euro- pean Union has concluded a series of bilateral agreements with various north and west African countries and has undertaken several meas- ures to tighten border security along Europe's borders. As a result, the routes taken by migrants shifted from Spain, to Italy and then Greece, underscoring the variable nature of migrant flows. The flow of migrants travelling overland from Turkey into Greece fell from more than 55,500 in 2011 to just over 12,000 in 2013. Meanwhile, the sea route between these two eastern Mediterranean countries saw an increase, from less than 1,500 to over 11,000 in the same period. An ever-increasing number of asy- lum seekers are making their way to Europe either through the Greek is- lands or Italy. Since the land route from the Horn of Africa – Somalia and Erit- era – through the Sinai desert into Israel has been cut, the sea journey between Libya and Lampedusa and Malta has lately returned to favour among the traffickers. Libya is currently one of the main hubs for migrants wishing to en- ter Europe, with the North African country's lack of effective law en- forcement and power vacuum, fa- cilitating the migrants' attempts to travel by sea, at a great risk. An in-depth analysis of migrant flows by the European Parliament's directorate-general for external poli- cies confirmed that a major increase in border crossings in the Mediter- ranean was recorded in 2013. While warning that "the EU should prevent the criminalisation of migrants and of humanitarian organisations supporting migrants," the report says that member states should be encouraged to speed up their procedures to grant asylum, while differentiating between refu- gees and irregular migrants. Furthermore, the report says that the European Parliament should en- courage member states, in coopera- tion with the UNHCR, to increase their quotas for resettling refugees "not adequately protected in third countries". jbalzan@mediatoday.com.mt Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Environment & Climate Change Expression of Interest Sant Antnin Family Park at Marsascala !"##$%&'$()*+'+,*+-$."'*(+,$*&$."'*(/(."*+$()$*0(,$+1.'+,,(&)$&%$()*+'+,*$%&'$*0+$ /&22+'/("#(,"*(&)$&%$/+'*"()$%"/(#(*(+,$3(*0()$*0+$4")*$5)*)()$6"2(#7$8"'9. The Sant Antnin Family Park was developed on Government owned land by WasteServ as part of a 'Planning Gain' obligation imposed by MEPA. The Park's development was largely EU funded. The Family Park offers a number of opportunities for the commercialisation of certain facilities in a manner that adds value to end users whilst keeping the present attractions free of charge. The purpose of this call is to: 1; Obtain a list of those individuals and/or entities that may be interested in adding value to the Family Park through mutually beneficial synergies and/or the provision of ancillary services; and 2; Invite proposals for commercial activities that are not already contemplated under this call but which may be beneficial and/or that provide value added to end users of the Family Park. Potential applicants are asked to register their interest by filling in and submitting the standard application form. Copies of the Application Form and related documentation may be collected in weekdays only from the 1 st April 2014 between 8.30 – 12.00 hrs and 13.30 – 16.00 hrs from the: Director (Procurement and Supplies) Permanent Secretariat Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change 6, Qormi Road St. Venera SVR 1301 The closing date and time for submission is 2nd May 2014 at 16.00hrs. Up to 6% of migrants lose their life at sea PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MANGION Over 23,000 died trying to enter Europe over the past 14 years EU states constantly close the routes with low mortality, pushing migrants towards the more dangerous ones