At least 61 refugees and asylum seekers, including women and children, have drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya. The boat, carrying about 86 people, was overwhelmed by high waves after departing from Zuwara. Most of the victims were from Nigeria, Gambia, and other African countries. Nearly 25 people were rescued and taken to a Libyan detention center. This incident adds to the alarming number of deaths on the central Mediterranean migrant route, with over 2,250 people dying this year alone.
At least 61 migrants, including women and children, drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya. The boat, carrying around 86 people, departed from the Libyan city of Zwara. The central Mediterranean route remains one of the world's most dangerous migration routes, with drowning being the main cause of death. The IOM report highlights that the central Mediterranean route accounted for the highest number of deaths and disappearances, with Tunisia and Libya being the most affected. Sea migrant arrivals to Italy have nearly doubled in 2023, with the majority coming from Tunisia. The European Union and Tunisia have signed a partnership deal to combat human trafficking and tighten sea borders. Britain and Italy have announced plans to jointly finance the return journey for stranded migrants in Tunisia.
More than 60 migrants are feared to have drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The vessel, carrying around 86 people, was swamped by high waves, leaving 61 migrants, including children, missing and presumed dead. Libya is a major departure point for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean and enter Europe, with over 2,200 people estimated to have drowned this year alone. Most of the victims in this incident were from Nigeria, Gambia, and other African countries. The IOM called the death toll a "dramatic number" and highlighted the need for more efforts to save lives at sea.
The United States-Mexico border is the deadliest land route for migrants, with at least 686 deaths and disappearances recorded in 2022, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This figure represents nearly half of the 1,457 migrant deaths and disappearances recorded throughout the Americas last year. The IOM called for decisive action by states and emphasized the need for enhanced data collection to ensure safe and regular migration routes. The Biden administration has implemented new restrictions and programs to discourage asylum seekers from attempting to apply at the border, but migrants continue to head there due to safety concerns and delays in asylum processing. The Caribbean and the dangerous Darien Gap passage also saw significant numbers of migrant deaths.
At least 63 asylum seekers are feared dead after a boat carrying over 100 passengers from Senegal was found drifting off Cape Verde. The vessel was located by a Spanish fishing boat, and 38 survivors, including four children, were rescued. The Atlantic migration route from west Africa to the Canary Islands is known to be one of the world's deadliest, with hundreds of deaths recorded this year. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlighted the lack of safe and regular migration pathways, which allows smugglers and traffickers to exploit desperate migrants.
More than 60 migrants are feared dead after a boat carrying an estimated 100 people, mostly from Senegal and Sierra Leone, was found drifting off the coast of Cape Verde. Thirty-eight people, including children, were rescued. The boat had been at sea for a month, and it is not clear when the incident occurred. Cape Verde is a maritime migration route to the Spanish Canary Islands, often used as a gateway to the European Union. The lack of safe and regular migration pathways contributes to the dangers faced by migrants attempting these deadly journeys.
