Organizations working to identify those who die at Europe’s borders

Every year, thousands of people die trying to cross oceans to enter Europe, turning waterways such as the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea into maritime graveyards. 

Identifying migrant deaths presents significant challenges. Many individuals travel without identification documents or lose them along their journey. A country’s political stance on irregular migration may determine if a deceased migrant is viewed as a victim or as a suspected criminal who smuggles people across borders. The nature of deaths at sea often delays the recovery of bodies, during which time decomposition sets in, making identification significantly more challenging. 

Various organizations such as the Migrant Disaster Victim Identification Action (MDVI) are working towards improving the identification of people who lose their lives at Europe’s borders. 

Through research collaborations and training programs, MDVI aims to expand the tools and expertise available to identify the deceased and bring closure to grieving families. 

Part of MDVI’s work is making  “secondary identifiers” such as facial features, birthmarks, tattoos, or piercings as legally recognized means of identification. Currently, identification relies on official methods or documents such as dental records, DNA, and fingerprints. However, barriers such as mistrust of authorities often discourage families from providing DNA samples, while fingerprints or dental records may be unavailable for many missing individuals. In addition, the precarious migration status of family members may prevent them from approaching authorities.  

MDVI researchers have also made use of photographs, particularly those posted on social media or shared during a person’s journey. In a study MDVI Action Chair Caroline Wilkinson published along with a team of researchers, as a methodology, facial image comparison is a valuable tool in identifying the deceased, especially in scenarios where it may be the only available data. “Its low technological requirements, quick analysis, and ease of digital data transfer make it particularly effective in challenging contexts,” reads the report. 

The MDVI has also helped advance the use of handheld 3-D scanners designed to capture detailed facial images of deceased individuals. These devices, intended for use by first responders and charity workers, allow physical features to be documented before decomposition sets in, significantly improving the chances of successful identification.

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New technology

Another organization, the Marine Institute in Galway, Ireland, developed software that predicts where bodies or survivors of maritime accidents might wash up by combining ocean current data with models of particle behavior under various wind conditions. Already used by Irish authorities in investigations, the technology has potential applications for UK and French migrant search and rescue operations, as it covers areas including the west of Scotland, the Irish Sea, the Channel, and the French Atlantic coast.

In another part of the migratory route, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the University of Dodoma, and the American Academy for Forensic Sciences organized a workshop in Tanzania to improve the management of unidentified human remains of migrants through stable isotope analysis, a technique that uses chemical signatures from human remains to gather information about individuals’ diets and geographic travel histories. In a statement, the IOM said this method can be used for resolving cases of migrant deaths and disappearances in Tanzania, a key transit corridor for those traveling from the East and Horn of Africa to destinations like South Africa and Mayotte Island.

The IOM Missing Migrants Project has documented over 766 deaths on the route from East and Horn of Africa to South Africa and Mayotte Island between 2014 and mid-2024, though the true toll is likely much higher.

By broadening the toolkit for identification and fostering collaboration among scientists, humanitarian organizations, and authorities, these organizations are striving to give a name and dignity to those whose lives were lost and may otherwise be forgotten.

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Disaster victim identification

The British newspaper The Guardian reported that until recently, migrant deaths were often not classified under Interpol’s Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) protocols meaning certain forensic protocols may not be followed.

Interpol lists DVI protocols as primarily designed for mass casualty incidents resulting from sudden, large-scale disasters, whether natural or man-made. In contrast, migrant fatalities typically occur individually or in smaller groups over time, lacking the immediate, concentrated impact characteristic of events that activate DVI procedures. Additionally, the clandestine nature of migration means that many deaths go unreported or undocumented, further complicating their inclusion under standard DVI operations.

Closure for an ambiguous loss

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) spearheads several initiatives to identify the remains of the dead. According to the ICRC, behind each missing person or unidentified body lies the profound grief of ambiguous loss. Families unable to obtain official proof of a loved one’s death remain trapped in limbo, unable to grieve or find closure. This ambiguous loss — or state of uncertainty–is one of the most distressing forms of loss, as the absence of answers leaves families in an emotional and psychological void. 

The impact extends beyond emotional suffering. When a loved one disappears, families often face financial and administrative hardships. The loss of a breadwinner can plummet households into poverty, while bureaucratic obstacles prevent access to pensions, inheritance claims, or the transfer of property titles to next of kin.

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