The International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Director General Amy Pope has stated that the ongoing loss of life on migration routes is a global failure that must not be accepted as normal. According to the IOM's report, the number of deaths has decreased from approximately 9,200 in 2004 to 7,667 in 2025; however, this drop is attributed to increased difficulties in gaining access to information and funding. There is a noted decrease in U.S. financial support for the IOM, which has direct implications on its ability to provide necessary services and information to migrants.

Most fatalities occur during sea travel, with at least 2,108 reported deaths or disappearances in the Mediterranean Sea alone, 1,047 in the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands, and around 3,000 in Asia, predominantly involving Afghan individuals. The report highlights a worrying trend in the Horn of Africa, where 922 people who traveled from Yemen to Gulf states have died—an alarming increase compared to previous years. This spike demonstrates the perilous nature of these routes and the dire conditions many migrants face, driving them to take dangerous paths in search of safety.

The statistics point towards a multilingual crisis where many are forced to rely on smugglers for unsafe journeys due to a lack of safe pathways. This reality calls for urgent international action to create safer migration channels and to address the underlying causes that compel individuals to migrate under such hazardous conditions. The deteriorating situation requires a concerted effort from nations to support and fund organizations like the IOM to prevent further loss of life.