Faith Nyasuguta
A tragic maritime incident has unfolded off Libya’s coast, where dozens of individuals are now missing and presumed dead after their boat sank, as reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
This marks another heart-wrenching episode in the ongoing migration crises around North Africa.
According to the IOM’s Libya office, the vessel, carrying approximately 86 people, left Zuwara, situated on Libya’s northwest coast, during the night between December 13 and 14.
The perilous journey ended in disaster due to high waves that engulfed the boat, leading to the presumed death of 61 individuals. The victims, including women and children, hailed from Nigeria, the Gambia, and other African nations.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, 25 survivors were rescued and subsequently transferred to a Libyan detention center. The IOM’s dedicated team provided essential medical support, ensuring the survivors’ well-being.
Flavio Di Giacomo, a spokesperson for the IOM, highlighted the grim reality of migration across the central Mediterranean route, stating that over 2,250 people have lost their lives this year alone.
The Adriana, a fishing boat loaded with 750 people en route from Libya to Italy, went down in international waters off south-west Greece on 14 June. According to survivors, the ship was carrying mainly Syrians, Pakistanis and Egyptians. Only 104 survived and 82 bodies were recovered.
More than 153,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Italy this year from Tunisia and Libya, according to the UN refugee agency.
These alarming figures underscore the urgent need for more comprehensive efforts to safeguard lives at sea.
The incident amplifies the broader challenges faced by migrants departing from Libya and Tunisia in the hopes of reaching Europe, primarily via Italy.
Libya, mired in over a decade of violence since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi, has become a hotspot for human traffickers, engaging in activities ranging from extortion to slavery.
The tragic incident off Libya’s coast adds to the distressing toll of lives lost at sea, prompting calls for heightened monitoring of the Mediterranean. Di Giacomo emphasized the lack of a robust monitoring system on this route, emphasizing the recurring tragedies that result from this inadequacy.
Meanwhile, the political landscape surrounding migration continues to evolve. Italy’s far-right Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has prioritized halting illegal immigration.
Recent developments, such as the suspension of a migration deal between Italy and Albania by the latter’s constitutional court, further underscore the complexity and challenges associated with managing migration flows in the region.
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