08/04/2026 (Agence Europe) – At least 990 migrants have already died in the Mediterranean Sea in 2026, making it “one of the deadliest starts to a year since 2014”, according to a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), published on Tuesday 7 April. The Central Mediterranean migration route alone accounted for 765 deaths, 150% more than during the same period in 2025, despite an overall drop in arrivals (-34% year-on-year in Italy). The press release stresses the continuing danger of these crossings, citing the recent shipwrecks off the coasts of Libya, Tunisia and Türkiye. The Director General of the IOM, Amy Pope, reminds us that “saving lives must come first”. She urges the international community to strengthen the coordination of relief efforts and to develop safe migration routes to “stop traffickers and smugglers from exploiting vulnerable people”. The press release: https://aeur.eu/f/lgn (JM)