TRIPOLI: Around 61 migrants were missing and presumed dead after their boat sank off Libya’s coast, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Saturday, in the latest migrant tragedy off North Africa.
The “large number of migrants” are believed to have died because of high waves which swamped their vessel after it left from Zuwara, on Libya’s northwest coast, the IOM’s Libya office said in a statement to AFP.
Citing survivors, it said there were about 86 migrants aboard. Libya and Tunisia are principal departure points for migrants risking dangerous sea voyages in hopes of reaching Europe, via Italy. In the latest incident most of the victims — who included women and children — were from Nigeria, Gambia and other African countries, the IOM office said, adding that 25 people were rescued and transferred to a Libyan detention center. An IOM team “provided medical support” and the survivors are all in good condition, the IOM office said.
Flavio Di Giacomo, an IOM spokesperson, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that more than 2,250 people died this year on the central Mediterranean migrant route, a “dramatic figure which demonstrates that unfortunately not enough is being done to save lives at sea.”
The Adriana, a fishing boat loaded with 750 people en route from Libya to Italy, went down in international waters off southwest Greece on June 14. According to survivors, the ship was carrying mainly Syrians, Pakistanis and Egyptians. Only 104 survived and 82 bodies were recovered.
More than 153,000 migrants arrived in Italy this year from Tunisia and Libya, according to the United Nations refugee agency. Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won elections last year after vowing to stop illegal migration. More than a decade of violence in Libya since the overthrow and killing of dictator Muammar Qaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising helped turn the country into a fertile ground for human traffickers who have been accused of abuses ranging from extortion to slavery.
The Mediterranean Sea has become a treacherous route for migrants seeking a better life in Europe. The latest tragedy off Libya’s coast highlights the dangers faced by these individuals as they attempt to make the perilous journey. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that around 61 migrants are missing and presumed dead after their boat sank. The IOM’s Libya office stated that the migrants likely perished due to high waves that overwhelmed their vessel.
Survivors have revealed that there were approximately 86 migrants on board the ill-fated boat. Libya and Tunisia serve as major departure points for migrants embarking on risky sea voyages in the hopes of reaching Italy and ultimately Europe. The majority of the victims in this incident were from Nigeria, Gambia, and other African countries. Fortunately, 25 people were rescued and taken to a Libyan detention center. The IOM provided medical support to the survivors, who are all reported to be in good condition.
This tragic event adds to the alarming number of deaths on the central Mediterranean migrant route this year. Flavio Di Giacomo, an IOM spokesperson, highlighted that over 2,250 people have lost their lives attempting to cross the treacherous waters. This figure underscores the urgent need for more effective measures to save lives at sea.
The dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe are not limited to the Mediterranean Sea. In June, a fishing boat named Adriana, carrying 750 people from Libya to Italy, sank in international waters off southwest Greece. The survivors revealed that the majority of those on board were Syrians, Pakistanis, and Egyptians. Tragically, only 104 individuals survived, and 82 bodies were recovered.
The influx of migrants from Tunisia and Libya into Italy has been significant this year, with over 153,000 arrivals reported by the United Nations refugee agency. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who won the elections last year, campaigned on a promise to halt illegal migration. The ongoing violence in Libya since the overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi has created a fertile ground for human traffickers, who have been accused of various abuses, including extortion and slavery.
The sinking of the migrant boat off Libya’s coast serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those seeking a better life in Europe. It is imperative for international organizations, governments, and stakeholders to work together to address the root causes of migration and provide safer alternatives for those in need. Only through collective efforts can we prevent further tragedies and ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals seeking refuge.