With about 2,200 children, women, and men either missing or confirmed dead in the Central Mediterranean so far, the year 2023 has been the deadliest since 2017 on this migration route, witnessing an average of eight victims per day.

In its latest report titled "No one came to our rescue," Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounces "the violent border practices and deliberate inaction of European states", attributing these factors to the escalating deaths at sea.

'Knowingly put people's lives at risk'

The report, based on data collected onboard the MSF-operated rescue vessel Geo Barents, outlines various instances where "European coastal states knowingly endangered lives by delaying or inadequately coordinating rescues, and by facilitating refoulements to unsafe locations." Furthermore, the report examines the "alarming levels of violence" reported by rescued migrants to MSF teams aboard the Geo Barents.

In 2023, "the number of people arriving at Italy's shores via the Central Mediterranean route has more than doubled compared to the same period last year. Tunisia has now overtaken Libya as the main departure point." This substantial increase in departures, coupled with the absence of state-led rescue capabilities, has resulted in more boats in distress and shipwrecks, as highlighted in a press release dated November 22.

Also read: Greece: Violence against migrants 'normalized' — MSF

Medical exams show abuse and torture suffered

MSF points out that medical examinations revealed evidence of abuse and torture suffered by rescued migrants. "Between January and September 2023, MSF's medical team carried out 3,660 consultations for survivors on Geo Barents. People rescued often suffered from health conditions directly related to the dangerous sea crossings, including fuel burns, fuel poisoning, hypothermia, and dehydration," the press release noted.

"Many survivors also experienced medical issues related to cramped and inhumane living conditions during their captivity in Libya, such as skin infections and untreated wounds." Moreover, 273 patients exhibited serious violence-related traumas, including scars from gunshot wounds or violent beatings, MSF said.

The teams also saw patients with unwanted pregnancies resulting from sexual violence, along with concerning levels of psychological distress, including anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks.

Juan Matias Gil, MSF search and rescue representative, emphasized, "For more than two years, MSF teams on board Geo Barents have treated the physical and mental health impacts of European migration policies."

He added, "Patients' wounds and stories reflect the scale of violence to which they were subjected in their country of origin and along their journey, including in Libya and Tunisia."

Also read: UN reports rise in Mediterranean migrant crossing deaths