GENEVA: The new head of the UN migration agency has expressed concern over the deaths of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean Sea, Western media reported on Monday.
Amy Pope who took charge of the head of the International Organization for Migration on October 1 vowed to work closely with governments to provide options for economic migration to address the issue.
US former White House adviser Amy Pope took over the charge at a time when the world is witnessing record forced displacement worldwide and increased political tensions over irregular immigration.
Amy Pope in her remarks said that the biggest concern is that the deaths in the Mediterranean have been normalized and that people take them for granted.
A comprehensive approach needed to stop illegal migration
She said that there is a need for a comprehensive approach to stop people from crossing the Mediterranean on boats and dying like this.
Pope becoming the first female head of the UN agency said she wanted to make partnerships with private companies to manage migration in a better way.
Read Also: UNSC Approves International Force to Support Haiti’s Police
IOM seeks to ensure orderly migration and intervenes where required. In her first press conference, Amy Pope vowed to work with countries that want to renew their labor forces like Spain.
she said the evidence is overwhelming that migration actually benefits economies, especially in rich states.
Pope said her first visit will be to East Africa to meet with the African Union Commission in Ethiopia and then to Brussels where she will hold meetings with senior European officials.
