How do refugees travel to Europe?

To claim asylum in Europe, refugees have to get here first. To travel by ordinary lawful routes, these people are required to obtain visas. And there are no visas available for those who are seeking asylum.

How many refugees drowned in the Mediterranean 2020?

From January to September 2021, it was estimated that 1,369 migrants died while crossings the Mediterranean Sea. In 2020, the number of deaths amounted to 1.4 thousand.

Why do asylum seekers travel by boat?

People seek asylum by boat for many reasons. Australia operates a universal visa system, which makes it very difficult for many people from certain countries to enter Australia by plane with a valid visa.

How many people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea?

But the number of people who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean so far this year — 896 — has already surged past the 615 who died in the same time frame in 2019, and the 389 who died in 2020.

Is there any rescue in Mediterranean Sea?

SOS Mediterranee, the organization which runs the Ocean Viking, said that 139 people were now on board the ship. Today, the #OceanViking crew performed a 2nd rescue — of an overcrowded rubber boat in distress in intl. waters off Libya.

How does Australia deal with boat people?

In 2011–2012, asylum seekers arriving by boat outnumbered those arriving by plane for the first time. Australia is the only country in the world with a policy of mandatory detention and offshore processing of asylum seekers who arrive without a valid visa.

What’s the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee?

Definition: An asylum seeker is someone who claims to be a refugee but whose claim hasn’t been evaluated. Someone is an asylum seeker for so long as their application is pending. So not every asylum seeker will be recognised as a refugee, but every refugee is initially an asylum seeker.