What is lost when a migrant or a refugee dies or goes missing along dangerous journeys? For the individual and their families? What is lost for communities and societies?

How are we contributing to this tragedy when we forget the stories we hear, the images we see? When we fail to imagine the person, their hopes and needs, the anguish of their families?

What does it mean for our humanity, our moral duty to safeguard human dignity? For the legal obligations and commitments we agreed to fulfil?

This FMR issue attempts to help address these questions and to provide a window into the dangerous journeys of migrants and refugees on land and at sea across the globe. It seeks to illustrate the risks and harms en route, the humanitarian needs that remain unmet and the tragic consequences faced by migrants and refugees. More than 74,000 deaths and disappearances have been documented since 2014. The true number is far higher.

The articles in this issue compel us to confront these realities, to grapple with fundamental questions, and to work towards preventing and reducing deaths, disappearances and harms faced by migrants and refugees along mixed movement routes. Human rights, adherence to international legal obligations and agreed commitments should not be at the mercy of politics, competing objectives and resource constraints. A steadfast commitment to the humanitarian imperative, human dignity and the right to life must remain at the core of our individual and collective action.

The authors who have contributed to FMR 75 illustrate how change is already happening. They document the tireless efforts of individuals, communities, local actors, organizations and governments across the world. From policymakers to migrants and refugees. From protection staff on rescue ships, to mountain rescuers, to local responders who search and identify the missing. From advocates to researchers.

Many of these initiatives have inspired multilateral and multistakeholder action in support of both migrants and refugees. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the Global Compact on Refugees and other international instruments and mechanisms provide frameworks for strengthening action and reporting on relevant commitments. As part of such processes, different initiatives are being put forward. These include pledges, collective statements and the UN Secretary-General’s recommendations to strengthen cooperation on missing migrants and prevent the loss of life in transit, on which all of our organisations collaborated and which were presented to UN Member States in December 2024.

Yet existing efforts are far from enough. Stronger leadership must come from all corners, from the highest levels of power to the grassroots. The articles remind us why this work is important, what can be done, and what part we could play in that change.

Florian von König (ICRC), Sanjula Weerasinghe (IFRC), Mariela Guajardo (IOM) and Samuel Boutruche (UNHCR)[1]

[1] The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ICRC, the IFRC, IOM or UNHCR.

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