A tragic fire on a boat carrying Sudanese refugees off the coast of Libya has killed at least 50 people. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the vessel had 75 passengers, of whom 24 were rescued alive.
The UN migration agency confirmed that the survivors have received medical assistance. In a statement, the IOM stressed the urgent need for stronger measures to prevent such deadly incidents along sea migration routes.
The Mediterranean crossing toward Europe remains one of the most perilous journeys for refugees. Just last month, a boat capsized off Yemen, killing at least 68 refugees. IOM data shows that more than 2,000 migrants and refugees either died or went missing in the Mediterranean last year alone.
Since the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a key transit hub for Europe-bound migrants. Currently, around 867,000 migrants are trapped in the country, many of them living in dire conditions inside detention camps and facing regular abuse, extortion, and sexual violence.
Human rights groups say that despite EU support for Libya’s coastguard, the force has ties to local militias accused of abuses. At the same time, European nations have scaled back state-led rescue missions, making sea crossings even riskier. As a result, thousands fleeing war and persecution continue to risk their lives on the Mediterranean route.