The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Thursday that at least 74 migrants died in a shipwreck off the coast of Khums, Libya.
“The boat was reported to be carrying over 120 people, among them women and children. Forty-seven survivors have been brought to shore by the coast guard and fishermen and 31 bodies have been retrieved while the search for victims continues,” the organization stated, saying that this was part of the many shipwrecks that have taken place in the Central Mediterranean since October.
“The mounting loss of life in the Mediterranean is a manifestation of the inability of States to take decisive action to redeploy much needed, dedicated Search and Rescue capacity in the deadliest sea-crossing in the world,” IOM Libya Chief of Mission Federico Soda said in the statement.
“We have long called for a change in the evidently unworkable approach to Libya and the Mediterranean, including ending returns to the country and establishing a clear disembarkation mechanism followed by solidarity from other states. Thousands of vulnerable people continue to pay the price for inaction both at sea and on land.” he tweeted.
Data from the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration shows that in 2020 alone, at least 900 people have drowned in the Mediterranean as part of a desperate attempt to reach European shores.
