The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday that at least 60 migrants, including Pakistanis, are feared dead after two separate shipwrecks off the Libyan coast in the past week.
The first tragedy occurred on June 12th near Tripoli. Of the 26 people on board, 21, including women and children, are missing. Only five survivors have been found. The IOM confirmed that Eritrean, Pakistani, Egyptian, and Sudanese nationals were among the victims.
A second shipwreck happened about 20 miles off the coast of Tobruk. According to the UN, a lone survivor reported that 39 people were lost at sea in that incident.
Othman Belbeisi, the IOM’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, urged the international community to increase search and rescue operations and ensure safe disembarkation for survivors, stating the loss of life and anguish caused to families.
The IOM statement also noted that at least 743 people have died this year attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. The route is becoming increasingly dangerous due to smuggling practices, limited rescue resources, and restrictions on humanitarian aid.
In April, a vessel carrying foreign nationals sank near Sirte, Libya, with the Foreign Office confirming that four Pakistanis were among the 11 bodies recovered. This incident is one of many migrant boat tragedies that have resulted in the deaths of numerous Pakistanis in recent months.
In response to these tragedies, Lahore’s Jamia Naeemia issued a religious edict, declaring that using illegal means to travel abroad from Pakistan is both unlawful and violates Shariah law. The decree stated that any action threatening one’s life is against Islamic principles, and advised people to use legal and safe means for traveling abroad.