The bodies of at least 29 migrants have been recovered in two separate locations in Libya, according to the Libyan Red Crescent and local security authorities. The discoveries highlight the ongoing dangers faced by migrants attempting to transit through the country.
In the southeast, the Alwahat district Security Directorate reported the recovery of 19 bodies from a mass grave on a farm in the Jikharra area, approximately 441 km from Benghazi. Authorities suspect the deaths were linked to human smuggling operations. Images posted online showed security personnel and Red Crescent volunteers placing the bodies in black plastic bags.
Meanwhile, in western Libya, the Red Crescent announced that 10 bodies were retrieved from the sea after a migrant boat sank off Dila port in Zawiya, about 40 km from Tripoli. Volunteers were seen numbering and placing the remains in white plastic bags.
Authorities said the 19 bodies found in Jikharra were located in three graves: one containing a single body, another holding four, and the third containing 14. The remains have been sent for forensic examination.
Libya has become a key transit route for migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, often under dire conditions. In late January, authorities rescued 263 migrants from a smuggling gang, revealing the severe hardships faced by those seeking a better future.