At least 50 people have died after a vessel carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire off the Libyan coast on Sunday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday.
The IOM confirmed that 24 survivors, many in critical condition, were given emergency medical support. However, the UN agency provided no details on the cause of the blaze or the precise location of the disaster.
Libya has long been a major transit route for people fleeing war and poverty across Africa and the Middle East. Since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, the country has been mired in instability, with traffickers exploiting its porous borders and weak security.
According to IOM data, as of February 2025, around 867,055 migrants from 44 countries reside in Libya. Most live in precarious conditions, exposed to violence, exploitation, and deadly risks on the Mediterranean route to Europe.
Humanitarian groups said the tragedy highlights the recurring dangers migrants face on overcrowded, unsafe boats with little rescue capacity along Libya’s shores. They called for expanded search-and-rescue operations, stronger monitoring of migration routes, and safer legal pathways for asylum seekers.
