[ad_1]
The 57 migrants who drowned off the Libyan coast on Sunday added to the toll of nearly 1,000 lives lost in the Mediterranean Sea this year alone, revealed the United Nations agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM ).
In addition to the 57 people who drowned when their boat sank on Sunday, there are at least 20 women and two toddlers missing from the sinking, while 18 were rescued, according to IOM.
Local fishermen and the Libyan coast guard rescued 18 people in waters 120 kilometers east of Tripoli.
“Our staff in Libya have provided emergency medical assistance, food, water and comfort to the survivors, who come from Nigeria, Ghana and The Gambia,” said IOM spokesperson. , Paul Dillon.
970 people left this year
Some 970 people have drowned this year on the perilous journey to Europe.
IOM said there had been an increase in departures for 2021 along the central Mediterranean along with an increase in interceptions and more arrivals.
“By advocating for better migration management practices, better migration governance and greater solidarity on the part of EU Member States, we can offer a clear, safe and humane approach to this issue that starts with saving lives at sea, ”said Dillon.
The African Union also called on its member states to speed up the evacuation and return of their citizens stranded in Libya in very bad and dangerous conditions in detention centers.
IOM says it is deeply concerned about the functioning of these centers.
Source link
