In the latest tragedy to strike the perilous route across the Mediterranean Sea, a boat carrying dozens of migrants attempting to reach Europe capsized off the coast of Libya, resulting in the death of more than 60 individuals, including women and children. The United Nations migration agency, International Organization for Migration (IOM), confirmed the devastating incident that occurred on Saturday near the town of Zuwara on Libya's western coast.

According to the IOM, the ill-fated vessel was carrying a total of 86 migrants when it was overwhelmed by strong waves. Tragically, 61 migrants drowned in the incident, as reported by survivors. This shipwreck serves as a sobering reminder that the central Mediterranean continues to be one of the world's most dangerous migration routes, a fact emphasized by the IOM via their social media platform X.

Experts reveal that Libya has become the predominant transit point for individuals fleeing strife and deprivation in Africa and the Middle East, despite the country being embroiled in chaos since the NATO-backed uprising that led to the downfall of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The perilous journey across the central European route has claimed the lives of over 2,250 people this year alone, according to Flavio Di Giacomo, a spokesperson for the IOM.

The IOM's missing migrants project, which monitors migration movements, highlights that between January 1 and November 18, at least 940 migrants were reported dead, with an additional 1,248 individuals missing off the coast of Libya. This grim statistic is further compounded by the interception and return of approximately 14,900 migrants, including more than 1,000 women and over 530 children, to Libya.

In 2022, the project recorded 529 deaths and 848 missing incidents off the Libyan coast. Moreover, over 24,600 individuals were intercepted and returned to Libya during the same period. The chaotic situation in Libya has allowed human traffickers to flourish, facilitating the smuggling of migrants across the country's extensive borders, shared with six neighboring nations. These desperate migrants are often crammed onto poorly equipped vessels, such as rubber boats, setting off on treacherous sea voyages.

For those intercepted and returned to Libya, their ordeal worsens as they are held in government-run detention centers notorious for their appalling conditions. These centers are rife with abuses, including forced labor, beatings, rapes, and torture – practices that have been deemed crimes against humanity by investigators commissioned by the United Nations. Furthermore, reports indicate that the detained migrants are subject to extortion, with traffickers demanding money from their families before arranging their departure on boats towards Europe.

The tragic boat capsizing off the Libyan coast highlights the urgent need for international attention and solutions to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. As the death toll continues to rise and atrocities persist, it is imperative for countries to work together to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals undertaking perilous journeys in search of a better life.