The United Nations migration organization reported on Monday that 53 individuals had perished or gone missing when a vessel overturned in the Mediterranean Sea near the Libyan shoreline. Only two survivors were recovered.
The International Organization for Migration disclosed that the incident occurred north of Zuwara last Friday.
During a search-and-rescue operation conducted by Libyan authorities, the IOM confirmed that solely two Nigerian women were saved. One survivor mentioned losing her husband, while the other expressed losing her two children in the tragic event.
Upon disembarkation, the IOM teams promptly provided emergency medical assistance to the rescued individuals.
According to survivor testimonies, the boat, carrying migrants and refugees of various African nationalities, departed from Al-Zawiya, Libya, at approximately 11:00 pm on February 5. Shortly after, around six hours later, the vessel capsized due to water ingress.
Expressing sorrow over the fatalities, the IOM emphasized the ongoing perilous nature of the Central Mediterranean migration route.
The agency, headquartered in Geneva, highlighted the exploitation of migrants by trafficking and smuggling networks along the journey from North Africa to Southern Europe. These networks profit from hazardous sea crossings using unseaworthy vessels, subjecting individuals to severe mistreatment.
Advocating for enhanced international collaboration to combat these networks, the IOM called for the establishment of secure and regular migration channels to mitigate risks and safeguard lives.
