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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?

Restrictive migration policies have made Europe’s mountainous alpine borders even more perilous for the migrants crossing them. A distinctive citizen-led approach to mountain rescue in the Hautes-Alpes is helping to reduce the risks.

Most migrants who die before reaching their destination are never identified. The Greek authorities’ response to a shipwreck in 2023, however, provides an excellent case study of successful identification.

A supportive environment for search and rescue in Niger has made possible an effective humanitarian response to migrants in distress in the desert, offering lessons for other contexts.