At least 18 migrants have died and around 50 are missing after a shipwreck off the eastern coast of Libya, near the city of Tobruk, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday.
“Ten survivors are currently known,” the organisation said in a statement.
The tragedy occurred over the weekend near the Egyptian border. Search and rescue operations are continuing.
The IOM stressed that this disaster is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by people forced to leave their homes in search of safety and a better life.
According to the organisation, Libya remains a key transit hub for migrants and refugees. Many of them are exploited, abused and forced to make extremely dangerous journeys.
The Egyptian Embassy in Benghazi has confirmed that all those killed were Egyptian nationals.
Ten bodies have already been identified and are being prepared for repatriation. The survivors were taken to a detention centre for illegal migrants.
Since 2011, after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in a military operation involving NATO, Libya has effectively become the main migration route to Europe for people fleeing war and poverty. This route runs through deserts and the Mediterranean Sea, where overloaded and dilapidated boats often sink. The lack of stable government and coordinated rescue services only exacerbates the humanitarian situation.
