“I am appalled by the continued loss of life in the Central Mediterranean and the lack of action to address this ongoing tragedy.” speak Federico Soda, Head of the International Organization for Migration’s Libyan mission (IOM).
On March 12, a boat believed to be carrying 25 migrants capsized near the Libyan coast of Tobruk and while authorities rescued six people and recovered seven bodies, 12 others were still missing. .
The latest incident brings the total number of migrants reported dead or missing in the Central Mediterranean to 215 this year, according to IOM’s Lack of migration projects.
Deadly migration route
Libya has long been a springboard for people fleeing countries ravaged by war and poverty in the hope of reaching Europe for a better life.
The IOM continues to call for concrete action to reduce the death toll on the central Mediterranean route through dedicated, proactive search and rescue missions coupled with a safe, appropriate landing mechanism. International law.
“More than half of the deaths this year have been recorded near the coast of Libya“The IOM official said.
The people behind the statistics
The most recent shipwreck follows horrifying reports of a February 27 incident in which a fiberglass boat left the port of Sabratah and was capsized just four hours later.
While 15 bodies, including a baby, washed ashore in the following days, no survivors were found and about 35 migrants are still missing.
“Each missing migrant report represents a grieving family searching for answers about their loved ones.“, Mr. Soda reminded.
Need more mobility options
The UN migration agency stressed that these tragic incidents are often the result of unequal access to legal and safe means of transport.
So that people do not feel compelled to risk their lives in search of safety and better opportunities, IOM highlights the “urgent need” for safe, orderly and regular migration options than.
“Families deserve to know the fate of their children, siblings, parents, partners or friends,” the IOM official concluded.
