At least 73 migrants are missing off its coast Libya and are considered dead, as announced today, Wednesday (15/2) o International Organization for Migration (IOM).
“Seven survivors, who managed to reach the Libyan coast in extremely difficult conditions, are now being treated,” the IOM said.
So far 11 bodies have been recovered by the Libyan Red Crescent and the local police.
The vessel in which about 80 were on board Immigrants had departed from Qasr Alkayar, east of Tripoli, and was heading to Europe, the IOM said, according to the Athens News Agency.
Libya is a key departure country for migrants who wish to reach Europe via the particularly dangerous route of the central Mediterranean.
This new tragedy brings to more than 130 the dead in this region of the Mediterranean since the beginning of 2023, according to the IOM count. In 2022 the organization had recorded more than 1,450 deaths.
“The central Mediterranean remains the world’s deadliest migration route, with large numbers of deaths recorded there each year“, underlined the IOM, describing the situation as “unbearable”.
“Concrete action is needed by states to increase search and rescue capabilities, define clear and safe disembarkation mechanisms and safe and stable migration routes to reduce dangerous journeys,” the agency added.
In early January, several international non-governmental organizations involved in migrant rescue operations in Europe denounced the desire of Italy’s far-right government “to prevent the provision of aid to people in difficult situations.”
Italy has been receiving thousands of migrants from Africa for years, with a record 180,000 arrivals in 2016. Rome mainly wants the automatic relocation to other states of migrants who arrive on its soil, but this idea is facing strong resistance from many EU countries.
Source: News Beast
With 6 years of experience, I bring to the table captivating and informative writing in the world news category. My expertise covers a range of industries, including tourism, technology, forex and stocks. From brief social media posts to in-depth articles, I am dedicated to creating compelling content for various platforms.
