At least twelve Egyptian migrants are feared dead after their boat capsized off the coast of Tobruk, an eastern town in Libya, on Monday. According to two Egyptian security sources, only one of the 13 men on board survived the shipwreck, and was rescued by Libyan authorities.
The migrants, originating from Egypt’s al-Sharkia and al-Gharbia provinces, had embarked on the perilous journey to Italy on Sunday night via a people smugglers’ boat. Reports from the surviving man indicate that the group aimed to reach Europe amid Egypt’s severe economic challenges, including rising inflation and high unemployment rates.
Libya, which has seen ongoing instability since the NATO-backed overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, has become a central transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in search of a better life in Europe. According to U.N. data collected in mid-2024, Libya is now home to over 761,000 migrants from 44 different nationalities, many of whom hope to cross the Mediterranean for a safer and more prosperous future.
The incident highlights the risks many migrants face as they undertake dangerous sea voyages to escape difficult conditions at home.
Melissa Enoch
Follow us on:
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour has condemned the commercialisation of GMO seeds, warning of threats to Nigeria’s food…
Oleksandr Usyk has secured victory over Tyson Fury in Riyadh, successfully defending his heavyweight championship…
Albania plans a one-year TikTok ban from January after a schoolboy’s death sparks concerns over…
A suspect accused of killing five people by driving into a crowded Christmas market in…
A US Navy F/A-18 Hornet was mistakenly shot down over the Red Sea by the…
NNPC has reduced petrol ex-depot price to N899 per litre, sparking competition with Dangote Refinery…