LONDON — At the very least 61 migrants drowned in a “shipwreck” off the coast of Libya, a migration group mentioned Saturday evening.
Ladies and youngsters had been among the many lifeless, in line with the Worldwide Group for Migration, an intergovernmental group that is a part of the United Nations community.
“The Central Mediterranean continues to be one of many world’s most harmful migration routes,” IOM Libya mentioned on social media.
The vessel left Zwara, Libya, with about 86 individuals onboard, survivors of the wreck informed IOM Libya, in line with the group. IOM did not say when the ship had sailed from the Libyan coastal metropolis or element how the wreck had occurred.
Greater than 2,250 individuals have died within the Central Mediterranean in 2023, Flavio Di Giacomo, an IOM spokesperson, mentioned on social media.
“A dramatic quantity which sadly demonstrates that not sufficient is being finished to save lots of lives at sea,” he mentioned, writing in Italian.
The Central Mediterranean is among the many area’s most-traveled migratory routes, with most boats departing from Northern Africa and journeying to Europe, in line with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Company.
About 128,529 individuals arrived in Italy, Malta or Spain by way of the route within the first 9 months of 2023, up from 87,503 the yr prior, in line with The U.N. Refugee Company.
“Inhabitants actions as a result of pressured displacement and migration in East, West and Central Africa are prone to proceed in 2024 on the identical tempo as 2023 or at a fair increased charge,” the company mentioned.