At least 50 people have died after a vessel carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire near the Libyan coast on Sunday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed on Tuesday.
The UN migration agency said it has provided medical assistance to 24 survivors of the incident.
“This tragedy once again highlights the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life at sea,” IOM’s Libya office stated on X.
The deadly incident marks the latest in a string of maritime disasters involving refugees and migrants attempting the perilous journey from Africa to Europe across the Mediterranean Sea — one of the world's deadliest migration routes.
Last month, at least 68 people died and dozens went missing when a boat carrying refugees capsized off Yemen’s coast. According to IOM data, 2,452 migrants or refugees died or went missing in the Mediterranean last year alone.
Libya, which currently hosts approximately 867,055 migrants, has become a major transit point for those hoping to reach Europe since the overthrow of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Under Gaddafi, many African migrants found work in Libya’s oil-driven economy. But in the years since his ouster, the country has descended into chaos, with rival militias battling for control and refugees increasingly caught in the crossfire.
The tragedy follows a series of similar maritime disasters this year. In August, at least 27 people drowned after two boats sank off Italy’s Lampedusa island. In June, another 60 people were feared dead in two shipwrecks off the Libyan coast.
Rights groups and UN agencies have repeatedly documented systemic abuse against refugees and migrants in Libya, including cases of torture, rape, and extortion. Despite these reports, the European Union has continued to support the Libyan coastguard with funding and equipment. Critics say the coastguard is linked to militias known for committing serious abuses.
Non-governmental organisations have also criticised the EU for scaling back state-led search-and-rescue operations, a move that has made the Mediterranean crossing more dangerous. In addition, many NGOs operating in the region have faced legal and administrative hurdles that they describe as punitive, further hampering rescue efforts.
With conflict and persecution forcing thousands to flee their home countries, many find themselves stranded in Libya — often detained in conditions that human rights organisations call inhumane.
Source: Al Jazeera
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