Boat Carrying 26 Bangladeshis Sinks off Libya Coast; 4 Bodies Recovered

Four Bangladeshis have died after two boats carrying about 100 migrants sank off the Al-Khums coast in northwestern Libya. The Libyan Red Crescent confirmed the information on Saturday, following the capsizing of the two vessels on Thursday night.

The organization stated that rescue workers reached the scene after receiving reports of two overturned boats off the Al-Khums coast. The first boat had 26 Bangladeshis on board, of whom four bodies have been recovered. Their identities have not yet been determined.

The second boat had a total of 69 people on board. Among them were two Egyptians and the remaining 67 Sudanese nationals, including eight children.

The Red Crescent said that emergency rescue and recovery teams are working to save the survivors, retrieve the bodies of the deceased, and provide necessary assistance.

The coastal area of Tripoli has long been known as a major route for irregular migrants heading to Europe. Accidents occur regularly as migrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea, and European countries have repeatedly expressed concern over this flow.

Libya is considered one of the most well-known and commonly used routes for illegal migration to Europe via the Mediterranean. After Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, the country turned into a transit point for Europe-bound migrants. Currently, more than 850,000 migrants are residing in Libya. During Gaddafi’s rule, migrants from various African countries found work in oil-rich Libya, but after his fall the country has become embroiled in conflict between rival militias.

Rights groups and United Nations agencies state that refugees and migrants in Libya routinely face torture, rape, and extortion.

In recent years, the European Union has provided Libya’s coastguard with equipment and financial assistance to prevent illegal migration. However, allegations have emerged that the same coastguard has links with militias involved in abuses and criminal activities.

Additionally, human rights organizations say that as European countries have gradually shut down state-run rescue operations, sea crossings have become even more dangerous. At the same time, humanitarian organizations engaged in rescue missions in the Mediterranean have faced restrictive measures from various states.

On Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than one thousand people have already died this year while attempting to cross the central Mediterranean.