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Berlin/San Jose More than 1,238 lives have been lost during migration in the Americas in 2021, among them at least 51 children, according to new data published by the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) Missing Migrants Project (MMP). At least 728 of these deaths occurred on the United States-Mexico border crossing, making this the deadliest land crossing in the world, according to the data.

The dangers facing people on the move throughout the region revealed by the data were highlighted on 27 June with the discovery of 53 bodies in an abandoned tractor trailer in San Antonio, Texas, and the hospitalization of 16 survivors. This tragedy increases the total number of deaths so far in 2022 to 493, and it serves as a reminder of the underreported migrant deaths that take place at the United States-Mexico border and throughout the Americas, and of the families left behind.

The number of deaths on the United States-Mexico border last year is significantly higher than in any year prior, even before COVID-19, said Edwin Viales, author of the new IOM report on migrants in the Americas in 2021. Yet, this number remains an undercount due to the diverse challenges for data collection.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, an increasing number of people from Latin America and the Caribbean are undertaking dangerous irregular journeys. Mobility restrictions enacted in response to the pandemic and not yet lifted may also have led to a funnel effect, driving migrants with limited options to increasingly dangerous routes.

Many deaths recorded on these routes are from countries with high numbers of asylum seekers. At least 136 Venezuelans have died in transit in the last 18 months, in addition to 108 Cubans and 90 Haitians. However, the largest demographic in the available data on migrant deaths in the Americas is unidentified people. The countries of origin of over 500 people whose deaths were recorded since 2021 are listed as unknown.

Our data shows the growing crisis of deaths during migration in the region, and the need to strengthen the forensic capacity of the authorities to identify deaths on these routes. We cannot forget that every single number is a human being with a family who may never know what happened to them, said Viales.

Despite commitments to save migrant lives and prevent further deaths and disappearances in the Global Compact for Migration, and despite relevant obligations under international law, the situation on the ground remains extremely dangerous for people on the move in the Americas.

In the Progress Declaration of the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) held in May 2022, the United Nations General Assembly reaffirmed the collective responsibility to preserve the lives of all migrants and take action to prevent loss of migrant lives and, in this context, remained deeply concerned that thousands of migrants continue to die or go missing each year along perilous routes on land and at sea, in transit, and destination countries. In April 2022, the Regional Conference on Migration (RCM) in an extraordinary declaration also underscored the importance of saving lives by establishing coordinated international efforts on missing migrants.

A report with analysis of 2021 data on migrant deaths in the Americas can be found here (executive summary in English). The full version of the report in Spanish can be found here.

The latest Missing Migrants Project data on the Americas can be found at missingmigrants.iom.int/region/Americas

***

For more information please contact:

Jorge Galindo at IOM GMDAC, Tel: +49 1601 791 536, Email: jgalindo@iom.int

Safa Msehli at IOM HQ, Tel: +41 79 403 5526. Email: smsehli@iom.int

Read the original post:
Latest Migrant Tragedy in Texas Highlights Crisis Along Deadliest Migration Land Route - International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The realities of migration and a tumultuous refugee crisis are not just on Turkey's agenda but the entire world. The number of people who leave their homes and countries for various reasons and flock to foreign countries is increasing rapidly. Some are on the road alone, others are with their families, their elderly parents and their children wrapped in swaddling clothes. The journey into the unknown becomes even more frightening with the difficulties they encounter in the countries they arrive in.

Recently, the issue of immigration the extent and its result cannot be forecasted was discussed recently at a two-day conference held in Istanbul. I was among the observers of the Global Parliamentary Migration conference held on June 20-21, hosted by the Turkish Parliament with the initiative of Parliament Speaker Mustafa entop. After the conference, where potential solutions to the migration and refugee problem and necessary steps to be taken were evaluated, I met entop to discuss what was on my mind.

I first wanted to touch on Turkey's immigration burden, which is heavier than most countries. When I asked for entop's views regarding the necessity of easing this burden, he said: "It is necessary to alleviate the heavy migration burden on certain countries and ensure that it is shared fairly."

Everyone, from politicians and bureaucrats to citizens, shares the same idea on this issue. After all, Turkey has been hosting the highest number of refugees in the world for eight years. Our population is 85 million, and according to official statements, there are 4 million refugees in the country, 3.6 million of which are Syrian. That means that around 5% of the population consists of refugees. Yes, the number is high and this is a cause of concern. While the issue of migration and refugees is common, many Western countries continue to ignore it.

Based on what I witnessed, I can say that the prohibition of discrimination in the West generally remains on paper. Prejudices, xenophobia and double standards prevail throughout that part of the world. Instead of taking responsibility for a tragedy, they shift the burden of migration and the responsibilities entirely on the shoulders of the surrounding countries. Is this state of ignorance sustainable? By looking at the influx and reasoning, I would say absolutely not. At this point, all countries must act with a humanitarian and conscious approach. To take action, governments must not lose time.

So what is the reason behind this state of ignorance regarding the issue of migration? Is Islamophobia the reason they want to close their doors on refugees, or the resulting economic burden that the refugees would bring to their countries?

If you ask me, it's the lack of empathy. I would fully endorse this statement from entop: "Actually, there is no multiculturalism in Europe. From time immemorial, Europe showed no tolerance for those who were different and expressed no desire to live together. Even among themselves. Catholics, Protestants and Jews lived separately. Europe does not have an inclusive, comprehensive culture that can transform into high culture."

As someone born and raised abroad, I agree with him 100%. Turkey, unlike Europe, comes from a multicultural world. Turkish people live in a land where people with different languages and religions have lived together for over 1,000 years. That is why integration is much easier for Turkey.

In my opinion, it is incorrect to say that the West maintains considerable distance from migrants coming from the Middle East and Africa because of religion. Even if they behave with more tolerance toward immigrants from within Europe compared to those from the Middle East, they are closed to immigration among themselves. Ultimately they do not want to include people from other countries. This is the main problem. But it is an inevitable situation. In the new world order, whether they like it or not, all countries will experience this, and they will continue to receive immigrants, legally or illegally.

I believe that migration will continue because war is not the only reason people sail into the unknown. There are even more important reasons for migration beyond war and safety. Of course, people are unsafe because of conflicts and wars. They are trying to escape their homeland. But this problem can be solved. In my opinion, economic difficulties and the lack of humane living conditions are among the reasons that should be considered more seriously. After all, when people facing hunger cannot find a job in their own country and their hopes are exhausted, it becomes inevitable to embark on a deadly journey.

Furthermore, another more permanent and long-term reason for migration has emerged in recent years: Climate change. Many regions are becoming uninhabitable even though there are job opportunities. Famine, drought and abnormal meteorological circumstances compel people to leave their homeland.

Although there are distinct reasons behind this inevitable migration, there is a general concern that the demographic of society has deteriorated, regardless of how much we try to empathize. Ignoring this reality is objectionable, as it will set the stage for social outrage. It must be explained that this situation is not unique to Turkey. There is an unstoppable movement everywhere, from Europe to Africa. Noticeable demographic changes are happening in the world.

When immigration is mentioned, countries like Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sudan first come to mind. But the Russia-Ukraine war has changed this perception. The war caused Europe to confront the issue of migration more closely. Western countries had to experience the events they once watched from afar right under their noses. According to official figures, approximately 7 million people moved to nearby countries within a month and a half.

I remember the speaker of the Polish parliament saying at the meeting of the European Union Parliament Speakers in Slovenia that 2 million people came to his country in 15 days. This statement did not create the desired effect in the room, and no one found this figure interesting. Then he said "the population of Slovenia is 2 million. Imagine, a Slovenia came to us in 15 days." Finally, the audience came to their senses with this concrete example. At that moment, it made me think that it was time to understand that these numbers are not just mathematical equations but that each number represents a helpless person. It is time to show empathy and be a humanist rather than a racist.

There is the reality I mentioned before: The number of people in Turkey disturbed by the rate and intensity of migration to the country is not low at all. Some are worried that this situation will become permanent. I wanted to get some information from entop regarding what authorities think about this and what they are doing.

I found his response hopeful: "Of course, we all know the magnitude of Turkey's burden. But one should not think that it is completely permanent. Turkey is a destination country on the one hand and a transit country on the other. Since it is located at the intersection of Asia, Africa and Europe, there may be transfers via Turkey. After all, there will be a voluntary return when conditions improve in Syria. I think most of them will go," entop said.

I do not believe this return has anything to do with worsening conditions in Turkey, as some claim. Because I know this: Life is difficult for refugees everywhere. They are not citizens, the jobs they can do are limited, and they are trying hard to hold on in a country where they do not even know the language.

In terms of Syrians specifically, most of those in Turkey are living under difficult conditions. Therefore, I think they will prefer to return to their country over time. Also, if Western countries support Turkey's investment in the safe zone as they have promised, the return process will accelerate. But the West's approach of "this is your problem and their problem" paints an embarrassing picture for humanity and seeks to intensify the problem.

But there is still hope that the promises made will be fulfilled and everyone can return to their motherlands and loved ones as soon as possible.

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Is there hope for global migrant waves? | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah

The United Kingdoms Rwanda asylum policy has been in the global spotlight since it was signed in April this year.

The U.K government introduced this policy under the economic development partnership. Through this, the asylum seekers will be flown 6,500 km away to Rwanda, which will handle the processing of their asylum claims.

This deal was introduced mainly as a measure to prevent the loss of life that happened because of the dangerous crossings. This policy will be introduced as a pilot for 5 years.

The UK has made an upfront payment of 120 million to Rwanda to cover the cost of housing and integration of the asylum seekers till their applications are processed.

In the wake of the migrant crisis of 2015, more than one million migrants and refugees crossed into Europe. There was a divide between how different European Union countries responded. Some welcomed the migrants, while some made their immigration policies stricter.

In 2016, when Britain decided to withdraw from the European Union, one of its most important themes of the campaign was taking control of immigration. And after Brexit, the U.K introduced a policy that gave entry to those who wanted to work in the U.K. through a points-based system.

In 2021, over 28,000 people entered in boats, compared to 8,500 people in 2020. They seek the help of human smugglers and illegal traffickers.

But the migrants will be given refugee status only based on the strength of their asylum claim. Those rejected would have to leave the country within 5 days.

On June 15, the first flight that was set to carry the asylum seekers to Rwanda was cancelled at the last minute.

This was after the European Court of Human Rights ruled against it as some of the immigrants didnt have the guarantee of a legal future in Rwanda.

Rwandas own human rights record is another reason why this policy faces flak.

In the past other countries like Australia, Israel, and Denmark have also established such policies. They were also deemed cruel and were opposed heavily.

Reports say that the legality of the U.K-Rwanda asylum policy will be tested in a full court hearing next month.

Read more:
Watch | Why is UK sending its refugees to Rwanda? - The Hindu

Zofia Zayons has cancelled her gym membership,physio sessions,streaming services andhas stopped eating out.

"At this point, the only thing that I can leverage is my time," Ms Zayons, from Hobart, said.

Juggling an interest rate rise after purchasing her first home last year, and an electricity bill she waswarned by the providerwould double, Ms Zayonsdecided tofindextra work.

Outside of her full-time role as a venue manager, Ms Zayons, 29,is moonlighting in a wine barand as a freelance communications officer for a government agency.

"I'm managing [working threejobs] but I'm tired and I know that what I'm doing now isn't sustainable forever,"she said.

"My next steps are a little unclear about how I'll continue to manage the future."

With little time between shifts at her three jobs, Ms Zayons plans her meals ahead, determined to avoid eating out.

Adapting to rising costs while remaining on a stagnant wage,Ms Zayonssaid she had also begun to buy some frozen vegetables rather than fresh ones, and was thinking twice before turning on the heating.

"You don't really expect that after studying two university degrees, taking on further study in your field, [and] having worked for five years that you do have to take on extra work it's kind of frustrating," she said.

Lucas Walsh, director of Monash University's Centre for Youth Policy, said young people were coming of age in a time of soaring house prices, less secure job markets and credential inflation where more and more qualifications were needed to secure a particular level of earning.

All of which, Professor Walsh said, was making it harder for them to plan their futures.

"Not being able to plan creates a level of uncertainty that has anxiety attached to it,"he said.

The markers of adulthood, like moving from education to the workforce, securing a house through ownership or rental, and starting a family were breaking down, Professor Walsh said.

"These markers are being eroded by things like the inflated housing prices andthe fact that less secure work is making it more difficult for young people to secure loans,"he said.

While Professor Walsh said it was too early to understandhow the current cost of living crisis was exacerbating these trends, he was certain about one thing.

"When we see economic downturns such as the global financial crisis, we see young people impacted immediately and disproportionately in relation to other age groups," he said.

For culturally and linguistically diverse communities, Professor Walsh said the impacts of an economic downturn could be compounded.

"If you're from a first- or second-generation migrant background, you're more likely to experience racism and exclusion, and that flows on into employment,"he said.

Mira Sulistiyanto, 25,in Adelaide is tossing up whether she should take a financial riskand return to university for post-graduate study next yearto upskill.

Ms Sulistiyanto, who currently works full time in the international development sector,said she wasworried that reducingher working hours and accruing more HECS debtwas not a smart idea in the current economic climate.

"I think there aresome important questions about whether increasing economic pressures do cause adeterrent for people to pursue further study, and the potential consequences of that," shesaid.

The rising cost of living isalso up-ending other parts ofher life.

Ms Sulistiyanto said shenormally travelled to Indonesia as often as possible to visit family in Java because itwas incredibly important to her.

But it was becomingdifficult to justify the travel costs, she said.

"Since the pandemic, and then with these increasing economic pressures, that's starting to feel not impossible, but definitely increasingly out of reach."

Ms Sulistiyanto said manyin her social circlesfelt the same.

Asense of economic dread was hovering above the conversations she had withfriends as they increasingly talked about money and shared tips on how to save.

Ms Sulistiyanto said she had tried to rein in spending on "luxuries" like catching Uber rides, eating out and cutting out takeaway orders.

She used helpful tricks from her friends including planning groceries a week in advance and dividing her earnings into 'buckets' in her bank account to save money.

In Wyndham Vale, on Melbourne's westernfringe, Vinu Shankar Ganesunand his young family recently moved into their newly-builthome.

But as costs continue to rise, Mr Ganesun and his wife Akilawho immigrated from India six years ago on skilled worker visas are beginning to consider if they should stay in Australia.

"[If we're] no better off compared to where we came from, it raises that migration question," Mr Ganesun said.

"Do we move closer to the family [in India] and at least that way we feel more comfortable?"

Mr Ganesun,who runs his own business consulting firm, said new migrants like him were in a unique situation when it came to cost of living pressures.

Not only does Mr Ganesun support family in India, and cover travel costs so they can visit each other, he is trying to build a life from scratch in Australia.

"[It's] kind of like travelling on two rails," he said.

"A lot of times you also have wider responsibilities, especially if you have younger siblings, so you are sort of financially responsible for them as well."

With his wife driving more than 110km each day to work inearly childhood education, and the family eating a plant-based diet,Mr Ganesun said fuel and grocery costs had risen steeply.

He said it was hard to cut down on fuel costs because the public transport in his area was not very accessible.

Mr Ganesun said the rising prices meant he was yet to start paying himself super since starting his own business last year.

"I've been busy making ends meet and have not reached the level of substantial savings when I feel like I can now start investing in my super,"he said.

"The cost of living just eats into the savings, and that has a longer-term impact on our financial goals."

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Laura Higgins, from ASIC's MoneySmart which provides free tools and services to help people make financial decisions said there were a number of things people could try if they wanted to improve their financial situation.

The best place to start was to make a list of all spending,Ms Higgins said.

"Understanding all of your financial commitments, being really honest about that, and understanding where your money's going," she said.

It was important to assess needs versus nice-to-haves and consider where changes in spending and priorities could be made, she said.

"How much money are you spending on groceries versus takeaway and going out to restaurantssometimes tweaking your spending and changing the balance of that can make a big difference."

Transport was another area where savings could be made. Ms Higgins said carpooling or bike riding were things people could consider to lower fuel costs.

"[Even] once a week, those behaviours can make a big difference over time," she said.

Sharing costs and downsizing everything from finding a housemate and sharing bills to culling online subscriptions could be considered, Ms Higgins said.

For those feeling overwhelmed, Ms Higgins suggested reaching out to the National Debt Helpline on1800 007 007 or accessing MoneySmart's other resources online.

"Making some changes can be a good thingand can be quite empowering, and change the way people feel about their financial situation," she said.

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Posted2 Jul 20222 Jul 2022Sat 2 Jul 2022 at 7:33pm, updated3h ago3 hours agoMon 4 Jul 2022 at 10:12pm

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Australia's cost of living crisis is forcing some to make difficult decisions about their future - ABC News

Cubans have once again made headlines in the international press, as many set off on perilous journeys either by land or sea in a bid to flee the troubled island nation.

This comes in the wake of thedeaths of 53 migrantsfrom Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico after being trapped inside a sweltering tractor-trailer truck found abandoned in San Antonio, Texas.

Police and paramedics descend on the scene of a tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas, where 53 illegal migrants from Central and South America died.

AP Photo/Eric Gay

The driver, along with two other men from Mexico, remain in custody as an investigation continues into the tragic discovery in late June 2022 which has become the US's deadliest smuggling episode at the Mexico border.

Those who have emigrated from Cuba have told SBS Spanish that, despite such horrors, they preferred the risk of death to continuing to subsist in a "hopeless" way, in a country whose precarious socio-economic situation has been aggravated by the pandemic and soaring inflation.

The Facebook pages of Cuban users are full of the stories of those who try to escape.

"A brother of mine and his young daughter are currently making their way through Central America - in vans, on buses, on horseback, on foot, through densely forested river areas, says a Cuban whose name is suppressed for security reasons.

He remembered the movie Life is Beautiful and told his daughter that they were in a game and that in the end, a dollhouse awaited her as a prize.

Unfortunately, this story is replicated in the thousands of Cubans unable to bear conditions at home.

Highlights:

Cuba and the US have, as far as emigration is concerned, a shared history of more than two centuries.

The phenomenon gained a special dynamism after the 1959 revolution which was consolidated in 1980 with the Mariel boatliftand intensified again in the 1990s with the crisis of the "rafters", which involved Cubans attempting to cross to the US with makeshift boats.

The migratory waves would intensify again in 2015 to 2017. However, recent events look set to eclipse these past attempts.

My decision to leave Cuba was because of economic problems, but at the same time, also because of political problems, a Cuban migrant told SBS Spanish.

A United States Border Patrol agent on horseback tries to stop a migrant from entering an encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande in Texas.

AFP

According to Cuban journalists and economic analysts who write for alternative digital journalism platforms such asEl ToqueandONcuba, the measures adopted in 2020 by the Cuban government with theaim of reordering the country socioeconomically have represented only a collection of disjointed patches with devastating collateral effects for the country's economic stability.

Newspaper articles published on these platforms claim thattheconvulsions of the economy in full economic reorganisation have placed a significant part of the Cuban population in a vulnerable predicament.

However, the official version of the Cuban government is at odds with this view, stating instead thatthe Cuban economy is recovering "gradually".

In an article in the newspaperGranma, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of Economy and Planning for Cuba, Alejandro Gil Fernndez, claims that the Cuban economy grewin the first quarter of 2022,experiencing "a growth of US$162 million compared to the same period in the previous year, although otherarticles published in the same medium point out that the recovery is taking place in the midst of tensions.

However, Cubans in exile say many citizens struggle to live with the lack of basic services and food security.

A Cuban migrant living in Australia said people faced shortages of essential items everyday, including food, water and even electricity.

She said everyday people are forced to stand in long queues just to buy the essentials.

Another Cuban, who now lives in the US, added that many Cubans did not identify with the obsolete archaic and totalitarian communism that has nothing to do with progress or with the development of human beings".

Within the Caribbean island, growing popular discontent has spilled out on to the streets, as evidenced in the protests that took place in July, 2021, the first of their kind in the country since the 1959 revolution which swept Fidel Castro to power.

An injured man stumbles after being injured during a demonstration against the government of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on 11 July, 2021.

AFP

According to Cubans who spoke to SBS Spanish, the country urgently needs economic and political change so that it can meet the most pressing needs and the growing democratic aspirations of some of its citizens.

Without this, many Cubans are opting to emigrate to any part of the world where their freedom is respected.

The current exodus represents a record wave of migration that is unprecedented, both in terms of the volume of migrants, the diversity of age and social groups, as well as by the number of borders that Cubans are willing to cross to reach the main destination: the US.

One Cuban migrant said he had to pay a fortune amounting to around US$20,000 to be able to leave Cuba.

You must also pay the 'coyote' orsmugglerwho is the person who moves you from Nicaragua to the border of the United States of America.

Between November 2021 and February 2022, nearly 40,000 Cubans arrived at the US southern border, according to US Customs and Border Protection data.

Since the end of 2021, thousands of Cubans have chosen to emigrate via Nicaragua, after President Daniel Ortega lifted visa requirements.

Cuban migrants charge their phones at a temporary shelter in a school in the town of La Cruz, Costa Rica.

Once in Nicaragua, Cubans cross the borders of neighbouring states through different routes, guided by human traffickers, known as 'coyotes', who charge exorbitant sums of money to assist in the process.

During this ordeal, which can last weeks or even months, Cuban women, children, the elderly, men and young people walk thousands of kilometres, with almost no luggage.

They cross rushing rivers and dense jungles, all the while exposing themselves to crime, mafia groups, drug-trafficking cartels, violent gangs and countless other risks imposed by the current COVID-19 pandemic and the political tensions that characterize some of the countries through which they need to pass.

A young Cuban, whom we will callClaudiofor security reasons, and who recently arrived in the US illegally, detailed his perilous journey to SBS Spanish.

Claudio says that in Honduras, the group he was traveling with was ambushed by police on their way to Tegucigalpa.

When he crossed through Guatemala, in the Huehuetenango area, they were again almost caught by police.

He said that after hiding for hours, the 'coyotes' finally convinced the police to let them through by paying them US$50 for each person they let through.

Once in Mexican territory, the group of illegal migrants went from the state of Chiapas to Puebla, and from Puebla to Monterrey, in vans called trocas.

A damaged truck stands on the street after a gun battle between Mexican security forces and suspected cartel gunmen, in Villa Union, Mexico

AAP

In Mexico, Claudio said he and his group spent 18 hours lying in the back of several pickup trucks, under the inclement Mexican sun. The conditions were such that they could not move, eat or drink anything, he said.

We crossed the border through a part of the river, near an area called Mier City that is a ghost town, full of wineries where people are trafficked.

In Monterrey, the 'coyotes' handed them over to a Mexican cartel who would become the guides for the rest of their journey.

According to Claudio, it was extremely difficult to move surrounded by mobsters with assault rifles in a difficult terrain full of dangers. It was difficult also to know that his life depended entirely on them, he said.

Just a few minutes after crossing the river that lead to the US border, they were, once again, about to be intercepted by Mexican police.

However, fortunately, the Mexican police force, which Claudio considers "the most corrupt on the planet" let them pass, after a brief chat with members of the cartel who handed over payments.

"The river at eleven o'clock, almost twelve o'clock at night, is a black river with a strong current. There were people with children, a family from Matanzas who were walking with their little girl of 4 years, all kinds of people trying to cross," he said.

Migrants wait on the Rio Grande to cross to the United States, in Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila state, Mexico, 18 September 2021.

AAP

"The boat sometimes had to be pulled because there was so much current that it felt like it could turn. And so, after 15 minutes on the boat, sailing upstream, we finally arrived in the United States and surrendered," Claudio said.

"I was detained for 30 hours and there were 55 of us in one prison cell: Nicaraguans, Hondurans, Guatemalans... Many of them with deportation orders and I, thanks to a gentleman, after 30 hours in detention, got on a bus bound for Brownfield, Texas."

But there are also many Cubans who have literally thrown themselves into the sea with the hope of reaching US shores. Florida's southern coast is about 144kms from Cuba.

As an example, Elin Lpez Cabrera arrived in the US on March 23 on a windsurfer however others haven't been as lucky. Talented Cuban DJ Ernesto Hidalgo Mario, known as TIKO, lost his life trying to swim to the US.

Although most Cubans who emigrate intend to reach the US as their final destination, there are also waves of Cubans stranded in European, Asian or African countries.

Stories on social media sites reveal Cubans are also trapped in border towns impacted by war, as is the current case with the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Many Cuban emigrants have been stranded on the borders of Poland, Belarus and Ukraine, without documents or financial support, increasing their vulnerability in the face of war and the cultural and linguistic barrier.

There are also some Cubans who dared to emigrate to the other side of the planet on the land of "the kangaroos". Although far from the home, the relatively small Cuban community in Australia, is not immune to the migration crisis that is unfolding on their beloved island.

Ledian Pardo, who has made Australia his new home, says he feels the enormous pain of seeing his country divided between those who have left and those who have stayed.

Cubans who live outside the country feel a lot of pain knowing that their families are scattered throughout the world. I have family in Europe, I have family in Ecuador, I have family in Panama, obviously I have family in Miami and I have family in Cuba.

Like so many other Cubans living in Australia today, Ledian Pardo said he was also deeply concerned for those relatives, friends and acquaintances who are about to embark on dangerous illegal journeys.

This crisis affects us emotionally and economically, and it also brings us many worries because we suffer from all the pain our people are going through, Mr Pardo said.

For the most part, it is young people who decide to emigrate and take risks through dangerous terrain across Central American countries.

And we all know, that sometimes, many of them fail to reach their destinations. That creates enormous pain for every mother who can't see her child again and for every family who loses loved ones.

Cuban photographer Raul Prado arrives at Havana airport to travel legally to the United States.

AFP/Carlos Batista

Continued here:
Risking their lives to leave: Record surge in Cubans seeking safe haven in the US - SBS