WEB DESK: The UN migration agency reported 53 people dead or missing after a migrant boat capsized off Libya’s coast in the Mediterranean. Only two Nigerian women survived and were rescued, both suffering immense personal losses—one lost her husband, the other her two babies.
The boat, carrying African migrants and refugees, departed Al-Zawiya, Libya, late on February 5 but capsized six hours later after taking on water, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The IOM highlighted how human trafficking networks exploit migrants on treacherous routes from North Africa to Europe, risking lives with unsafe vessels. The agency urged stronger global cooperation to dismantle these networks and promote safe migration channels.
Meanwhile, the European Commission stressed addressing migration’s root causes and expanding legal routes to Europe. A spokesperson called for intensified efforts with partners like Libya to prevent dangerous crossings and fight smuggling.
The IOM reports over 33,000 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014. In 2022 alone, 1,873 deaths or disappearances were recorded, with most occurring on the perilous central Mediterranean route.
