Deadly journeys: Refugees, migrants risk everything to reach Europe

For those willing to stake their lives on surviving what the IOM says is the world’s most dangerous migration route, European deterrence means little.

Nevertheless, the European states most exposed to departures from Tunisia and Libya, principally Italy, have adopted increasingly punitive measures. Under a new Italian bill approved earlier this month, the country can indefinitely prohibit boats from entering its waters “in cases of grave threats to public order or national security”.