The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it believes at least 60 migrants died in two catastrophic shipwrecks off the Libyan coast last week.
The first disaster on June 12 near a Tripoli port saw 21 people, including children and women, go missing. Just five survivors were rescued.
Nationals from Eritrea, Pakistan, Egypt, and Sudan were among the victims. The second shipwreck occurred around 35 kilometers from the port city of Tobruk, and the only survivor reported that the sea claimed 39 persons.
Othman Belbeisi, regional director of the IOM for the Middle East and North Africa, highlighted the importance for the international community to step up search and rescue efforts and facilitate safe disembarkation of survivors. “With scores feared lost and families left in distress, we need to act immediately,” he said.
A total of at least 743 individuals have lost their lives so far this year trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, a journey ever more dangerous because of risky smuggling methods and poor rescue options.
Through June 15, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees documented a 15 percent rise in the number of migrants arriving on the Italian shore this year compared to the year before last, with the majority of migrants coming from Libya.
Over the past decade, maritime rescue organizations have rescued more than 175,000 individuals from the Mediterranean. However, an estimated 28,932 people have died attempting the crossing since 2015, with the central Mediterranean being the deadliest stretch.
The current Italian government, led by Giorgia Meloni, has implemented strict measures to curb crossings, including laws requiring rescue ships to return to designated ports, which NGOs argue contradict maritime law.
