When countries consider allowing immigrants, they often forget the journey that many of those people take. Forgetting the journey, however, sometimes has fatal consequences, particularly overseas.
Libyan Red Crescent officials found the bodies of 74 migrants on Libya’s coast near Zawiya. The cause of the mass deaths is not yet certain, but Libyan officials say that a torn rubber dinghy nearby leaves a hint. They believe the people likely drowned while trying to migrate to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea.
Libyan Red Crescent International Relations Officer Taha Sultan Elbarghathi said the dinghy was damaged. However, he also said that the migrants drowning was likely not caused by the boat sinking.
“We don’t know the exact time the boat capsized, but the boat did not totally sink,” he said. “One of the sides has lost its air.”
While more than 70 bodies were washed up on Libya’s coast, officials say there are many more still in the sea. Elbarghathi said the rescue team could not reach the remaining bodies.
“The sea is very troubling,” the official said. “And they don’t have boats so they can’t reach them easily.”
Rescuers expect the other bodies to wash ashore, as well. This incident comprises the largest number of bodies the local Libyan Red Crescent Branch has retrieved at once.
So far, all the victims are African men of different ages. Although the number of people traveling with the group is not verified, officials say there was likely around 150 people. So far in 2017, at least 272 people have drowned in the Mediterranean trying to migrate and flee their countries.
Increasing Migration
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent spokesman Stephen Ryan explained the event is devastating, but an indicator of increasing immigration.
“It’s another one of the tragic incidents that have happened so far this year,” he said. “[It] certainly reminds us that the risk faced these days is one that often goes unnoticed by most of the world.”
Ryan further explained that the number of people migrating between Libya and Europe is increasing. Despite it being early in the year, he said the number of people who successfully migrate is higher than last year.
“While the number of people taking the eastern Mediterranean and west Balkans route to travel into Europe has obviously significantly dropped since last year, there hasn’t been a fall in the number of people traveling through the central Mediterranean routes from Libya to Italy,” he said.
