Today, Saturday, paramedics in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, announced the recovery of at least 17 bodies believed to be those of migrants, during the past few days, from beaches located west of the capital.
The Emergency Medicine and Support Center of the Ministry of Health confirmed that the bodies were found on the coast of the city of Zuwara, which is about 117 kilometers west of Tripoli.
The center explained that “14 bodies were buried according to the approved procedures and in a way that preserved the dignity of the deceased,” noting that one body was transported to Tripoli after identifying it. It was a citizen of Bangladeshi nationality, where his family received it. The center did not provide any additional details about the fate of the two remaining bodies.
Through its official accounts, the center showed pictures showing ambulance teams transporting bodies inside white bags, in preparation for transporting them in ambulances and taking the necessary measures.
The Libyan coasts, especially the western regions such as Zuwara and Sabratha, are considered one of the most important departure points for illegal migration boats towards Europe via the Mediterranean Sea, which is one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world.
Tragically, migrant drowning incidents occur frequently as a result of smuggling networks relying on old and crowded boats that lack the most basic safety standards, which leads to recurring humanitarian disasters, especially in light of volatile weather conditions.
According to international reports, the Mediterranean witnesses hundreds of victims annually, including dead and missing, with a noticeable increase in the number of victims in recent years, amid warnings of a worsening crisis as conflicts and poverty continue in the countries of origin of the migrants.
Libya plays an essential role in this issue, due to its geographical location close to the European coast, in addition to the weak security situation that allows the activity of human smuggling gangs, which makes migrants vulnerable to many risks, starting with exploitation and ending with death at sea.
On the other hand, the Libyan authorities and humanitarian organizations face great difficulties in dealing with this phenomenon, whether in terms of rescue operations, recovering bodies, and identifying the victims, in addition to the lack of available capabilities.
These repeated incidents also raise international criticism of European migration policies, amid calls to strengthen search and rescue operations and address the main causes of migration, instead of being limited to security measures.
This tragedy re-highlights the painful human face of the illegal migration crisis, as journeys in search of a better life turn to tragic ends on the shores of the Mediterranean.
