The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that a boat carrying 74 people sank off the coast of Tobruk on Saturday, with only 13 people surviving. Dozens of people were reported still missing. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that in a second accident on Sunday, a boat carrying 75 Sudanese refugees sank due to a fire, resulting in the loss of at least 50 lives.
According to IOM data, from the beginning of the year to September 13, 456 people lost their lives and 420 people went missing on the Central Mediterranean route. This route is described as the world’s most dangerous sea route for refugees.
Clashes between the army and paramilitary groups in Sudan have caused more than 140,000 people to flee to Libya in the last two years. Most entered the country through the southeastern border regions of Libya. Libya is one of the most used points for transit to Europe due to its proximity to both Italy and Greece. However, internal turmoil and militia groups in the country make the situation for refugees even more difficult.
International institutions reported that cases of human trafficking, torture, enslavement, and ill-treatment of refugees in Libya are widely reported. Despite this, the European Union’s support for the Libyan coast guard is causing controversy. Following the recent accidents, international organizations have called for the establishment of safe routes to prevent further tragedies.
Source: Sputnik
