Buenos Aires, Dec 18 (NA) – Around 70,000 migrants have died or gone missing over the last decade, both on land and sea routes, in search of a better life, the UN Secretary-General, Portuguese national Antonio Guterres, warned today. In a message released on the occasion of International Migrants Day this Thursday, Guterres stated that migration “is a powerful engine for progress, it boosts economies, connects cultures and benefits both origin and destination countries equally”. “But when migration is mismanaged or distorted, it can fuel hatred and division, putting the lives of people seeking safety and opportunities at risk,” he expressed. Likewise, as reported by the Argentine News Agency, he noted that with the hardening of borders and the flourishing of smugglers and human traffickers, “women and children are among those who face the greatest risks”. After mentioning the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, adopted seven years ago, Guterres said that the international community “can and must harness the power of migration to drive sustainable development and build more resilient societies”. IP Taking into account the large and growing number of migrants in the world, in December 2000, the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 18 as International Migrants Day. #AgenciaNA
