At least 50 Sudanese refugees have died in a shipwreck off the coast of eastern Libya after their overcrowded rubber boat caught fire while en route to Greece, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed on Wednesday.
The tragedy occurred Sunday off Tobruk, when a vessel carrying 75 Sudanese refugees was engulfed in flames. “At least 50 lives were lost,” an IOM spokesperson told AFP, adding that 24 survivors received urgent medical care. It remains unclear whether one passenger is still missing.
Libya, despite its own political turmoil, continues to serve as a major transit hub for thousands of migrants and refugees seeking the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe.
Rising Toll on the Central Mediterranean Route
The IOM reports that between January 1 and September 13, at least 456 people have died and 420 remain missing along the central Mediterranean route — one of the deadliest migration corridors in the world.
This year alone, Libyan authorities have intercepted and returned 17,402 migrants, including 1,516 women and 586 children, many of whom face detention, extortion, and near-slavery conditions upon return.
Sudan Conflict Driving Dangerous Crossings
The brutal conflict between Sudan’s army and paramilitary forces has driven more than 140,000 Sudanese refugees into Libya over the past two years, nearly doubling their numbers in the country.
With limited safety or opportunity, many turn to smugglers and traffickers, risking their lives on treacherous sea crossings.
In 2024 alone, 2,573 people died attempting to reach Europe across the Mediterranean, according to IOM data.
A Nation in Turmoil
Libya itself remains deeply divided since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.
The country is split between a UN-recognised government in the west and an eastern administration backed by commander Khalifa Haftar.
Smugglers and traffickers have exploited this instability, perpetuating systemic human rights abuses against migrants.
The IOM has called the central Mediterranean crossing a graveyard for migrants, underscoring the urgent need for stronger protection measures for those fleeing war and instability.
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