Across the Middle East, hundreds of people have been deciding to embark on dangerous journeys at sea to seek better opportunities. Some are trying to escape the Syrian war, others from economic hardship in Lebanon, and some want to overcome the legacy of decades of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians – only to meet their death.
A 14-year-old Sudanese refugee boy, Mazen, was abducted in August near his house in Warshafana, Libya. He was first held in a militia prison and he is currently detained in a juvenile prison in the Tajoura area, east of Tripoli. His father told ANSA that he still doesn't know why his son is being held and that the boy is in poor health.
A Macedonian man and three Pakistanis have been charged with imprisoning a group of migrants in North Macedonia last year. The victims were from India, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Italy's national anti-mafia and anti-terrorism prosecutor Federico Cafiero de Raho has said that African criminal organizations are dangerous and are controling migration from Libya to Europe. He claimed that while the Nigerian mafia is currently the strongest, various organizations work together in a sort of consortium.
Human trafficking between Africa and Europe has not only thrived in recent years, it has grown into a highly abusive system involving corrupt elites and political networks. Jan Philipp-Scholz, the author of a new book on the migration business, has spoken with migrants in Africa on nearly every step of their journey. Their testimonies reveal the extent of abuse and human rights violations happening on Europe’s doorstep.
'Travel now, pay later' schemes offered by smugglers seem to be increasing the risks to migrants and refugees, especially in parts of Africa. One of the dangers is being kidnapped for ransom, a business that thrives in lawless regions and traps migrants with no way out.