UN Reports Discovery of Mass Grave with 65 Migrant Bodies in Libya

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UN Reports Discovery of Mass Grave with 65 Migrant Bodies in Libya

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A mass grave containing the bodies of at least 65 migrants has been discovered in Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The circumstances surrounding their deaths and their nationalities remain unknown, but the IOM believes they perished while being smuggled through the desert en route to the Mediterranean.

Expressing profound shock at the discovery, the organization, a part of the United Nations, emphasized that Libya is conducting an investigation into the matter.

Located in southwest Libya, the grave was unearthed by authorities, the IOM reported.

A spokesperson for the IOM remarked, “Each report of a missing migrant or a loss of life represents a grieving family searching for answers about their loved ones or acknowledging the tragedy of the loss. The cost of inadequate action is evident in the increasing human deaths and the disturbing conditions migrants find themselves in.”

The organization underscored the urgency of a coordinated response to combat migrant smuggling and promote legal migration pathways, noting that Libya serves as a primary departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean.

In addition, the Geneva-based IOM called upon Libyan authorities and other UN agencies to ensure the dignified recovery, identification, and transfer of the remains.

This grim discovery follows another tragedy where at least 60 migrants, departing from the Libyan coast, lost their lives when a rubber dinghy encountered distress in the Mediterranean Sea.

Earlier this month, the IOM reported that 2023 marked the deadliest year for migrants since records began a decade ago, with at least 8,565 individuals perishing on migration routes worldwide—a 20% increase compared to the previous year.