The Central Mediterranean route is described by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR as the most dangerous migration route in the world - one in six people who departs the shores of North Africa dies. "In life, when you see you've lost everything, you're not afraid of anything any more," a migrant from the Central African Republic told Al Jazeera. Migrants told Al Jazeera that having a shot at a "better and safer" life is what drives them away from home and on this perilous journey, hoping to reach Europe. We've been recovering bodies of men, women and children over the last four years and seen things get worse," Romaniuk told Al Jazeera. Stierl added how "European coastguards pushed boats back and attacked them … or left boats unassisted and left the people to die".

Source: The North Africa Journal July 16, 2020 16:18 UTC