Three children dead as Libya remains key crossing for migrants

Three people have died in a sea crossing attempt from Libya to Italy, with two of the deaths being children between the ages of 3 and 4, as Libya remains a key crossing for migrants.

According to Reuters, the migrants were intercepted on the 10th of May by a German sea rescue charity, RESQSHIP, that had saved a further 59 survivors with the boat originally setting sail on the 7th of May.

When the German boat found them, they were on a rubber boat that was floating adrift south of Lampedusa, an Italian island.

They were originally discovered after the EU border agency Frontex spotted them.
RESQSHIP added in a statement, “By the time [we] reached the rubber boat at around 4.30 p.m. (1430 GMT/UTC), it was too late to help some of the people.“

The situation of migrants crossing to Europe from Libya has become an increasing issue in recent times.

Since 2014, the number of migrant deaths or missing persons in crossings from North Africa to Europe is almost 25,000, with the number of those being 1,700 in 2024, per the International Organisation for Migration.

This issue has become a concern for Libya, which has become the direct access point to cross over to Europe for migrants.

The Mediterranean coast has become a key transit point for African immigrants seeking to enter Europe, with 679,974 migrants from over 41 nationalities currently residing in the 100 Libyan municipalities.

On the 3rd of April, Libya attacked the idea of settling migrants in their country as Internal Security Authority spokesperson Salem Gheit stated the plan to “settle migrants of African origin in our country represents a hostile act.”

In response, the Libyan government forced the closure of aid organisations and charities, ordering ten humanitarian groups to close their offices.

These organisations included Doctors Without Borders and the UN refugee agency.

Migration through North Africa to Europe remains a significant challenge for countries on both sides of the Mediterranean. Despite Libya’s recent closure of humanitarian organisations, migrants continue to attempt the dangerous sea crossing to reach European shores.

Reuters/Infomigrants/International Organisation for Migration/Maghrebi.org