Author: RACHAEL ADEEGBE

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has recently unveiled the statistical annex to the 2023 Annual Report on Migration and Asylum. This important document, produced in collaboration with the European Migration Network (EMN), offers a detailed look at the most significant developments in migration and asylum across Europe over the past year. The newly released statistics provide a wealth of information covering various aspects of migration and asylum in the EU and Norway from 2020 to 2023. The report is divided into two main sections, each offering unique insights into different facets of migration trends and policies. The…

A heartbreaking incident unfolded on the Aegean coast of Turkey when a raft carrying migrants crashed into rocks near the town of Cesme, resulting in at least seven deaths. This tragic event highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe through dangerous sea routes. The accident occurred on Tuesday 9th of June 2024 off the coast of Izmir Province. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported on social media that nineteen people, including children, were rescued from the wreck. However, the search continues for one person who remains missing. The Turkish coast guard swiftly launched a large-scale rescue…

Rwanda has declared it won’t return the money Britain paid for a controversial migrant deportation plan, even though the new UK government has scrapped the idea. This surprising turn of events has sparked debate about international agreements and refugee policies. The story begins in 2021 when the UK, under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, came up with a plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. The idea was to discourage people from making dangerous trips across the English Channel in small boats to reach Britain. As part of this deal, the UK promised to give Rwanda up to half a billion…

The newly elected Labour government in the United Kingdom announced a significant shift in its immigration policy. Sir Keir Starmer, the new Prime Minister, through his spokesperson, revealed plans to allow more than 100,000 migrants to apply for asylum in the UK. This decision comes after Labour’s discontinuation of the controversial Rwanda migration scheme, which had been implemented by the previous Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak. The Rwanda scheme had aimed to deter asylum seekers from making dangerous crossings of the English Channel by sending them to Rwanda for processing. Labour’s new approach marks a dramatic change in how…

On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, the German charity Sea-Eye raised an alarm about a critical situation in the Mediterranean Sea. They announced that they had conducted five rescue operations in just 24 hours, saving 230 people who were attempting dangerous sea crossings. This high number of rescues in such a short time highlights the ongoing crisis in the Mediterranean. Sea-Eye emphasized that their presence in these waters is crucial for saving lives, but they are facing significant challenges in their mission. The main obstacle Sea-Eye is encountering comes from European countries, particularly Italy. Despite successfully rescuing refugees and transferring them…

On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a crucial meeting with Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The primary focus of their discussion was the ongoing situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, a topic that has gained significant attention due to Pakistan’s recent crackdown on migrants. This meeting underscores the complex interplay between humanitarian concerns, diplomatic relations, and national security issues in the region. Pakistan has long been a major host country for Afghan refugees, with a history dating back to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989. Currently, the country…

In July 2024, a big group of over 90 organizations that work to protect human rights and help people in need came together. They wanted to send a strong message to the European Union (EU). The EU is a group of countries in Europe that work together. These organizations were worried because the EU was going to have its first big meeting with newly elected leaders. The message from these organizations was very serious. They wanted the EU to remember two important things: the right to asylum and following the law. Asylum means when a person asks another country for…

On the night between Sunday, July 7th, and Monday, July 8th, 2024, a serious event happened in the Mediterranean Sea. This sea is between Europe and Africa. In the part of the sea between Sicily (an island that’s part of Italy) and Libya (a country in North Africa), a metal boat full of people was sinking. Luckily, a fishing boat from Tunisia (another country in North Africa) saw the sinking boat. The fishermen on this boat quickly went to help. They managed to save 44 people from the sinking boat. These people are called migrants because they were leaving their…

On June 8, 2024, Rwanda said it understood that the United Kingdom (UK) wanted to end their agreement about moving migrants. This agreement was first made in April 2022 by the UK’s previous government. The main goal was to stop people from trying to cross the English Channel in small, dangerous boats to get to the UK. The new British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, had his first big meeting with reporters. He talked about the agreement with Rwanda. Starmer said he didn’t think it was a good idea to keep sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. He explained, “I don’t want…

The children’s commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, is set to visit the migrant processing centre at Manston following concerns over the safeguarding of children at the facility. This move comes in response to ongoing issues and follows the government’s announcement in March of a statutory inquiry into alleged mistreatment of asylum seekers at the site. Located at a former military base in Kent, Manston was repurposed as a processing centre in February 2022 amidst a surge in migrants arriving in the UK via small boats. Reports from late 2022 highlighted severe conditions, including overcrowding and outbreaks of diseases such…