The Central Mediterranean route remains one of the most perilous in the world for those attempting to cross it in hopes of reaching Europe. According to the latest update published by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (OIM) in Libya, at least 515 people have died and another 830 are missing at sea between January 1 and November 16, 2024.
A tragic toll
These figures highlight once again the severity of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Mediterranean. The victims are predominantly migrants embarking on dangerous journeys aboard fragile, overcrowded boats unfit for navigation.
Rescue operations remain challenging, hindered by adverse weather conditions, limited resources, and political tensions between the involved states.
Migrants returned to Libya: a return to hell
During the same period, the OIM recorded 20,231 people intercepted at sea and returned to Libya. Among them were 17,647 men, 1,411 women, 647 minors, and 526 individuals whose gender data was unavailable.
Libya, often described as a “hell” for migrants, is a stage for systemic violence, arbitrary detentions, and severe human rights abuses. Forced returns only worsen the plight of those seeking a better future.
A call for a shared solution
These alarming figures are a wake-up call for the international community. Despite repeated promises and action plans, the migration crisis along the Central Mediterranean route continues to claim lives.
A global approach is necessary to protect human dignity and address the root causes of migration flows, including conflict, poverty, climate change, and economic inequality.
Until structural solutions are implemented, the Mediterranean will remain a graveyard for thousands of lives, a tragic symbol of our collective failure to ensure a fairer world.
