On 16 December 2023, a Europe-bound ship carrying about 86 migrants capsized off the coast of Libya, leaving more than 60 people, including women and children, dead.[1] The migrants are believed to have died because of high waves that swamped their vessel after it left from Zuwarah, on Libya's north-west coast. The departure time of the boat is unknown but is presumed to be on the night of December 13–14.[2]

Background

According to the IOM's Missing Migrants Project, at least 940 migrants were reported dead and 1,248 were missing off Libya between January 1 and November 18. The project, which tracks migration movements, said about 14,900 migrants, including over 1,000 women and more than 530 children, were intercepted and returned to Libya this year. In 2022, the project reported 529 dead and 848 missing off Libya. More than 24,600 were intercepted and returned to Libya.[2][3]

The Central Mediterranean is among the region's most-traveled migratory routes, with most boats departing from Northern Africa and journeying to Europe, according to Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Flavio Di Giacomo, an IOM spokesperson, wrote on X that more than 2,250 people had died so far this year on the central Mediterranean migration route, a “dramatic figure that demonstrates that unfortunately, not enough is being done to save lives at sea.”.[4]

It included women and children who were from Nigeria, the Gambia, and other African countries, the International Organization for Migration office said, adding that 25 people had been rescued and transferred to a Libyan detention center.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "UN: Over 60 Drown in Migrant Vessel Off Libya". english.aawsat.com. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 Tondo, Lorenzo (17 December 2023). "More than 60 people presumed dead after boat sinks off Libya, says UN". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "More Than 60 Drown When Migrant Vessel Capsizes Near Libya, UN Says". Voice of America. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "61 migrants drown in 'shipwreck' off Libyan coast, migration organization says". Yahoo News. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Times, International New York. "At least 61 migrants drown off Libya". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "At least 61 asylum seekers drown after shipwreck off Libya". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
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