Bodies of migrants recovered in Libya
The bodies of 19 migrants with associations to smuggling networks have been found in three graves on farms within east Libya, The National via Reuters reported on February 7th.
The 19 bodies were found on February 6th in the Jikharra area, around 440km from Benghazi, according to the Security Directorate in Al Wahat district, eastern Libya. Ten bodies were also recovered after a boat sank in the western part of the country.
The Security Directorate posted pictures on Facebook depicting police and volunteers from the Libyan Red Crescent putting the bodies in black bags. The directorate also said the Red Crescent assisted with excavating the graves and the remains were given to a forensic examiner.
In the post, the Security Directorate said that the “smuggling and illegal migration activities” were carried out by “a known smuggling network.”
According to IOM Publications, smuggling gangs in Libya are notorious for subjecting migrants to heinous acts of abuse and exploitation. The gangs are said to be part of transnationally organized crime networks and profit financially from those making the treacherous journey to European nations.
The directorate called the mass burial an “inhumane act that completely disregards the values of humanity,” revealing that three graves were discovered on the farms. One grave was found holding 14 bodies.
Investigations will continue, the directorate added, noting that patrols have been ordered to secure the area surrounding the farms.
In recent years, Libya has become a hub for smuggling gangs and a popular transit route amongst migrants crossing the Mediterranean to flee conflict and poverty. There are currently 143,000 Internally Displaced Persons in Libya, UNHCR reported. The UNHCR has called for safe and legal pathways out of the country, noting that even those who survive the dangerous journey are still at risk of being sent back to Libya to be held in detention centres – known for horrific cycles of abuse.
The National via Reuters, IOM Publications, UNHCR
