The number of unidentified bodies found in the southeastern Libyan city of Kufra has risen to 64, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the Libyan Health Ministry’s Emergency Department. This grim discovery highlights the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region, as migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, continue to face exploitation, violence, and death on their dangerous journeys to Europe.
In a statement on its official Facebook page, the Emergency Department said its field team worked in southern Kufra from Thursday to Monday. The team recovered, analyzed, and reburied what it called “the bodies of illegal migrants” in a designated area. However, the statement did not provide details about the identities or nationalities of the deceased.
This update follows an earlier announcement by the Libyan Forensic Police on Saturday, which reported the recovery of 59 unidentified bodies in the same region. At the time, authorities did not explain how the individuals died or who they were.
The discoveries come as Libya remains a major transit point for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. On February 9, the Libyan Attorney General’s office reported that security forces in Kufra rescued 76 migrants held captive by a criminal gang. Near the detention site, authorities also found 28 bodies of migrants buried in the area.
Since the fall of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has struggled with instability, lawlessness, and conflict. Without a strong central government, criminal networks and human traffickers have grown, targeting vulnerable migrants. Many migrants face horrific conditions in detention centers or during their journeys. Some are held for ransom, forced into labor, or subjected to violence, while others risk their lives on overcrowded and unsafe boats in the Mediterranean.
The rising death toll in Kufra is a stark reminder of the human cost of the migrant crisis. International organizations and human rights groups have repeatedly called for urgent action. They urge Libyan authorities and the global community to combat human trafficking, improve conditions for migrants, and create safe and legal pathways for migration.
However, Libya’s political divisions and ongoing conflict have made it difficult to implement lasting solutions. As the bodies in Kufra are laid to rest, the tragedy reflects the desperate choices migrants face and the urgent need for international cooperation to end their suffering.