According to a UN organization, 61 people were discovered dead in a "shipwreck" off the coast of Libya
According to a UN organization, 61 people—including women and children—drowned after a disaster off the coast of Libya. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that the boat, which left Zwara on the Libyan coast, initially carried 86 passengers. According to an IOM statement, "the central Mediterranean remains one of the world's most dangerous migration routes." The majority of the victims in the most recent event were from Nigeria, the Gambia, and other African nations, according to reports from the AFP news agency.
According to the IOM, 25 individuals made it out alive and were sent to a prison facility in Libya.
Earlier today, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed concerns about the escalating threat of illegal migration, warning that it could potentially "overwhelm" Europe. Speaking at an event in Rome with Italian conservatives, Sunak suggested that a shift in international law might be necessary to effectively address this challenge.
Addressing the audience, Sunak emphasized the possibility of adversaries exploiting immigration as a "weapon" to intentionally drive people towards European shores, aiming to destabilize societies. He highlighted the alarming prospect of criminal gangs adopting increasingly affordable methods to engage in illicit activities and manipulating human compassion for their benefit. "Criminal gangs will find ever cheaper ways to ply their evil trade," Sunak remarked. "They will exploit our humanity. They think nothing of putting people's lives at risk when they put them in these boats at sea."
Hinting at the need for a reconsideration of international immigration laws, Sunak underscored the urgency of tackling the issue to prevent a further surge in numbers. The prime minister's remarks came in the wake of Home Office figures revealing that 292 individuals crossed the English Channel in seven boats on Friday. Tragically, one migrant lost their life during the incident, while another is in critical condition.
