Libyan authorities have recovered 59 unidentified bodies in the southeastern city of Kufra, the Forensic Police announced on Saturday. The operation, described as part of standard humanitarian and legal procedures, aims to investigate and document the circumstances surrounding the deaths. However, the identities of the victims remain unknown, raising questions about the ongoing migrant crisis in the region.
This discovery follows a separate statement issued by the Attorney General’s office on Friday, which confirmed the recovery of 58 migrant bodies in the same area. The grim findings underscore the perilous conditions faced by migrants traveling through Libya, a key transit point for those attempting to reach Europe.
In a related development, police in Libya’s central Jufra district arrested three members of a criminal gang accused of kidnapping and torturing migrants. The arrests highlight the persistent threat posed by human trafficking networks operating in the country.
Earlier this month, on February 9, the Attorney General’s office reported that security forces in Kufra had rescued 76 migrants held captive by a criminal gang. Authorities also exhumed 28 bodies buried near the detention site, further exposing the brutal realities of migrant exploitation in the region.
Libya has been a major transit hub for migrants, particularly from African nations, since the fall of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country’s ongoing instability and lawlessness have created fertile ground for criminal networks to prey on vulnerable populations, leading to countless tragedies along the Mediterranean migration route.
As investigations continue, human rights organizations are calling for increased international attention to the plight of migrants in Libya and stronger measures to combat human trafficking. The recent discoveries in Kufra serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for coordinated action to address this humanitarian crisis.