Most of the migrants came from African countries. They didn’t have life jackets and were crowded into boats that were pulled by bigger merchant ships.

Death toll climbs sharply

A deal between the EU and Turkey which blocked routes to Greece forced migrants to the Libya-Italy route, which is longer and more dangerous. If the weather is favorable, ships carrying migrants can depart at the same time. This puts serious pressures on rescue activities if an accident occurs. The death toll from recent shipwrecks has brought the number of migrant deaths to 2,500 most of them women and children. UNICEF has expressed alarm over the situation and warned of a major summer increase. In a statement on May 29, UNICEF said it would work with the Italian government and international partners to increase humanitarian activities, strengthen communications, and provide necessary rescue equipment.  

Darkness behind migrant crisis

The EU’s failure to find a solution to the migrant crisis has created an opportunity for terrorists, criminals, and illegal migrant services. In 2015, 90% of migrants to Europe had to hired services from a criminal ring and paid between 3,200 and 6,500 USD per person. Criminal organizations received an estimated 5 billion USD from migrants last year. Europol forecasts that the number of migrants this year will be higher than last year. In Libya, approximately 800,000 people are waiting to migrate to Europe despite the dangers.

The expanded operations of criminal organizations have worsened the migrant crisis and caused major security and political problems for Europe.

Seeking solutions

EU leaders have failed so far to find an effective long term solution. They only have a few stop-gap solutions. The migrant deal that the EU and Turkey signed in March now seems to face apart after the two sides issued tough statements in a squabble over visa exemptions. Turkish Economic Advisor Yigit Bulut said Turkey would suspend its deal with the EU unless the EU keeps its promise to exempt Turkish citizens from needing visas in the Schengen region. But the EU insists that Turkey revise its anti-terrorism law, one of five conditions it has set for visa exemption. As the migrant deal with Turkey begins to crumble, the EU hopes to get Greece to accept the migrants and transfer to Greece the credit it promised Turkey. Greece, however, is currently struggling with mounting public debt and a sinking economy.

Experts say the key to ending the migrant crisis is to stabilize Middle Eastern and African countries, especially those devastated by civil war or the Arab Spring uprising like Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Egypt.