According to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM), 2023 emerged as the deadliest year for migrants since 2014, witnessing nearly 8,600 fatalities worldwide. This represented a tragic increase of 20 percent compared to the preceding year 2022.

The migrants deaths documented last year surpassed the global count of deceased and missing individuals in the previous record-setting year of 2016, when 8,084 people lost their lives, IOM reported.

The primary causes of mortality were drowning, followed by vehicle accidents and violence. The Mediterranean crossing remained the most dangerous route, with at least 3,129 deaths and missing persons reported, according to IOM.

Since 2014, the UN Organization for Migration has documented the deaths of 63,000 individuals on migration routes, though the true toll is presumed to be higher.