The International Organisation for Migration has revealed on Saturday 16th December 2023 that no fewer than 61 illegal migrants have been declared missing and presumed dead after their boat sank off Libya’s coast in the latest migrant tragedy off North Africa.
In a statement issued by the IOM in Libya, a large number of migrants were said to have lost their lives as a result of high waves that impacted negatively on their vessel after it left Zuwara, on Libya’s northwest coast.
Authorities of the IOM disclosed that most of the victims of the earliest incident, who consisted of women and children, were said to be Nigerians, Gambians and citizens of other African countries, adding that 25 persons were rescued and transferred to a detention centre in Libya.
While describing it as a dramatic figure that demonstrates that unfortunately, not enough is being done to save lives at sea, an IOM spokesperson, Flavio Di Giacomo, stated that more than 2,250 persons died this year on the central Mediterranean migrant route.
It was however gathered that IOM officials provided medical support and confirmed that the survivors are all responding to medical care.
Overtime, Libya and Tunisia have been major points of departure for illegal migrants risking it through sea voyages in the hope of getting to Europe through Italy.
Recall that Adriana, a fishing boat loaded with 750 migrants en route from Libya to Italy, had on July 4 sunk in international waters off southwest Greece.
Officials say, there were about 86 migrants onboard the ship carrying mostly Syrians, Pakistanis, and Egyptians and only about 104 persons survived, and 82 bodies were found.
According to the United Nations refugee agency, this year alone more than 153,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Tunisia and Libya.
Far-right Prime Minister in Italy, Giorgia Meloni emerged victorious in last year’s elections and vowed to put an end to illegal migration.
