Fifty-three migrants, including two babies, have died or are missing after a rubber boat capsized off the coast of Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration.
On February 6, fifty-three migrants, including two babies, were reported dead or missing after their rubber boat capsized north of Zuwara, Libya. The boat was carrying 55 people when it overturned due to water ingress, prompting a search and rescue operation by Libyan authorities. Only two Nigerian women survived the tragedy, sharing harrowing accounts of their loss - one losing her husband and the other her two infants.
The boat, which had departed from Al Zawiya, Libya, at around 11:00 PM on February 5, was part of the perilous journey many migrants and refugees from African countries undertake in search of better opportunities in Europe. This incident highlights the dangerous conditions faced by those attempting to migrate across the central Mediterranean, which has seen a growing number of deaths and disappearances. As reported by the Missing Migrants Project of the IOM, more than 1,300 migrants are currently reported missing in the central Mediterranean region.
The increase in fatalities during migration attempts underscores the urgent need for action to address the systemic issues causing such dangerous crossings. With safe and legal pathways often unavailable, many individuals continue to risk their lives in the hopes of reaching Europe. This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of migration and the ongoing crisis that demands international attention and response.
