A recently surfaced video has gone viral, shining a heartbreaking light on the perilous journeys that countless migrants undertake in hopes of reaching Europe. The footage, captured, depicts a group of men trudging across the vast, inhospitable expanse of the Sahara Desert.
This is just one example of the treacherous migrant routes that have become all too common in recent years. As political instability, economic hardship, and violent conflicts continue to plague many regions of Africa and the Middle East, droves of desperate individuals are compelled to embark on these life-threatening voyages.
Crossing the Sahara, one of the harshest and most unforgiving environments on Earth, is an immensely perilous undertaking. Temperatures can soar well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, food and water are scarce, and the risk of getting lost or succumbing to dehydration is ever-present. Tragically, many migrants do not survive the journey, their bodies succumbing to the relentless desert.
Those who manage to make it across the Sahara then face an equally daunting challenge – navigating the Mediterranean Sea. Overcrowded, makeshift boats frequently capsize, leaving hundreds of people stranded and struggling to stay afloat. The International Organization for Migration estimates that over 20,000 migrants have perished in the Mediterranean since 2014.
