At least 5,684 migrants have died en route to Europe since the beginning of last year. This is reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). More than 29,000 migrants have died since 2014, the UN agency reports.

In the past two years, the number of migrant deaths has increased, says the IOM. 2,836 dead and missing were reported on the route from North Africa to Italy, almost 600 more than in the previous two years.

During the same period, 1532 people died crossing from West Africa to the Canary Islands. That’s the highest number since IOM started tracking numbers eight years ago. According to the IOM, the real number of migrants killed is higher as some boats sink without ever being found.

Illegal pushbacks

The number of deaths has also increased since last year on other routes, such as the border between Turkey and Greece, the Balkan route and the route across the English Channel to England. According to the IOM, much suffering could have been avoided if needy migrants had been helped quickly and effectively.

At least 252 migrants have been killed by illegal pushbacks in the past two years, according to the UN agency. Migrants are forcibly sent back across the border. These figures are included in the statistics for the first time.

Safer routes

It is not known where the vast majority (17,000 of the more than 29,000 dead) came from. Most of the identified migrants came from Syria, Morocco and Algeria.

The UN agency is urging European countries to ensure safer migration routes and speed up search and rescue operations.