A boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Libya, and at least 61 people are missing and presumed dead. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the incident occurred after the vessel left from Zuwara on Libya’s northwest coast. High waves are believed to have caused the tragedy. Among the approximately 86 migrants on board were women and children from Nigeria, the Gambia, and other African countries. Twenty-five people were rescued and taken to a Libyan detention center, where they received medical support and were reported to be in good condition.
Libya and Tunisia are common departure points for migrants attempting dangerous sea voyages to reach Europe, often via Italy. Over 153,000 migrants arrived in Italy this year from Tunisia and Libya. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who leads a far-right government, has taken measures to restrict the activities of charity ships assisting people in the perilous sea crossing. The government’s approach to tackling illegal migration has garnered praise from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who, during a visit to Rome, joined Meloni in vowing to prevent migrant boat landings and combat people smugglers.
The central Mediterranean migration route, described by the United Nations as the world’s deadliest, claims hundreds of lives each year. According to Flavio Di Giacomo, an IOM spokesperson, more than 2,250 people died this year on this route, emphasizing the urgent need for more efforts to save lives at sea. In another tragic incident, the Adriana, a fishing boat with 750 people on board, sank off southwest Greece on June 14. The ship was en route from Libya to Italy, carrying mainly Syrians, Pakistanis, and Egyptians. Only 104 survived, and 82 bodies were recovered.
In Libya, more than a decade of violence has turned the country into a fertile ground for human traffickers, who engage in various abuses, including extortion and slavery. The situation remains challenging due to the instability and unrest following the overthrow and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising.
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