Alarm Phone pays tribute to migrants who died crossing Mediterranean, demands safe passage

Alarm Phone activists have visited Côte d’Ivoire to honour migrants who died while attempting to reach the European Union and protest what the organisation described as deadly European border policies.

In a series of posts on X, the organisation, which provides independent support to people attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, said the increasingly restrictive border policies were forcing migrants to take more dangerous routes.

“AlarmPhone activists were in #Côted’Ivoire to pay tribute to those who died while attempting to reach the ‘fortress’ #UE and to protest against the deadly border policies that force increasingly dangerous routes,” the organisation said.

Alarm Phone said its activists stood alongside families mourning relatives who lost their lives during migration journeys, stressing that the deaths at sea were a consequence of policies that leave migrants with limited safe options to reach Europe.

“Standing alongside the families who mourn the loss of their loved ones!” the organisation said.

The group renewed its call for freedom of movement and the creation of safe routes for people seeking to enter the European Union.

“We demand #FreedomOfMovement for all and safe passages!” it said.

According to Alarm Phone, providing safe and legal routes is essential to preventing further deaths in the Mediterranean, where migrants and refugees continue to undertake dangerous sea crossings in search of safety and better living conditions.

“It is the only way to put an end to mass deaths at sea,” the organisation said.

The comments come amid continued concerns over deaths and disappearances involving migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean, with rights groups repeatedly calling on European governments to expand safe migration pathways and strengthen search-and-rescue efforts.

Alarm Phone has consistently urged European authorities to prioritise the protection of human life and ensure that people attempting to cross the Mediterranean are not left without assistance.