According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a boat carrying migrants overturned in the frigid waters of the central Mediterranean Sea, north of the Libyan town of Zuwara, last Friday. The incident is the latest in a series of deadly accidents involving vulnerable people who are often exploited by smuggling gangs that have thrived in Libya since the overthrow of President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Libyan authorities rescued two Nigerian women from the shipwreck; one reported that her husband had drowned, while the other said both of her babies had died.
Survivors explained that the vessel carried migrants and refugees from multiple African countries. The boat departed from Zawiya at around 11 p.m. on Thursday and began taking on water approximately six hours later, ultimately capsizing. The intended destination of the passengers is unknown, though many migrant boats leaving Libya aim for the Italian island of Lampedusa, roughly 350 kilometers from Zawiya. UN aid agencies have repeatedly warned that the open rubber dinghies commonly used are entirely unsuitable for such journeys.
In January alone, at least 375 people have been reported dead or missing in the central Mediterranean, according to IOM’s missing migrants database. The UN agency cautioned that these figures only reflect recorded incidents amid severe winter weather, with many more shipwrecks likely unreported. Smuggling and trafficking networks continue to exploit desperate migrants by sending them to sea in unseaworthy vessels, prompting calls from IOM for greater international cooperation and the creation of safer, legal migration routes.
So far this year, 781 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya, including 244 in the past week. This contrasts with 27,116 returns in 2025, which included 1,314 deaths or missing persons. IOM emphasized that Libya is not a safe port for migrants, noting continued dangers such as mass graves and secret detention sites. Investigations have revealed that many victims were held captive and tortured to coerce ransom payments from their families.
In the eastern city of Kufra, authorities uncovered an underground detention facility three meters below ground, releasing 221 migrants and refugees, including women, children, and a one-month-old baby. Initial reports indicated that the detainees had endured prolonged periods under extremely inhumane conditions.
To support vulnerable migrants, IOM provides voluntary repatriation flights for foreign nationals, including Pakistani migrants in Tripoli last week and 177 Nigerian migrants in late January. The UN agency also collaborates with national and regional authorities to dismantle trafficking networks and strengthen cross-border cooperation, aiming to protect survivors and prevent further exploitation at sea and in detention.
