At least 60 migrants and refugees are feared to have drowned in two separate shipwrecks off Libya’s coast, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as efforts to reach Europe continue to claim lives.
Othman Belbeisi, IOM’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, urged the global community to reinforce maritime rescue efforts and ensure survivors have access to secure and consistent landing points. “Entire families are suffering, and the lack of response cannot continue,” he stated.
The first tragedy occurred on June 12 near Alshab port in Tripolitania. Only five people were rescued, while 21 remain unaccounted for. Among the presumed victims are six Eritreans—including three women and three children—alongside five Pakistanis, four Egyptians, two Sudanese nationals, and four individuals whose identities are still unknown.
The second shipwreck took place the following day, June 13, about 35 kilometers west of Tobruk. A lone survivor, rescued by local fishermen, reported that 39 others are missing.
So far in 2025, at least 743 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, with 538 deaths occurring on the Central Mediterranean route—the most dangerous migratory path in the world.
The European Union has intensified efforts to curb such migration in recent years by funding and equipping the Libyan coastguard. However, the force has been linked to militia groups accused of numerous human rights violations.
Humanitarian organizations warn that reduced government-led search and rescue missions have made crossings even more hazardous. Many also face legal and operational challenges when trying to aid migrants at sea.
Libya remains a major departure point for migrants, despite being mired in conflict and instability since the 2011 NATO-led ousting of Muammar Gaddafi. Refugees and migrants frequently face detention in harsh conditions, with rights groups documenting widespread abuses ranging from extortion to slavery.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis highlights the urgent need for international cooperation to protect vulnerable lives along one of the world’s most perilous migration corridors.