Scores of migrants feared drowned off Coast of Libya

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At least 115 people are missing, feared drowned, after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Libya, a navy official says.

Gen Ayoub Kacem said 134 people were rescued and a body recovered.

The boat was carrying some 250 people from a number of African and Arab countries when it sank 8km (five miles) from the coast, Gen Kacem said.

The UN’s refugee agency said it was the deadliest shipwreck in the Mediterranean so far this year.

At least 65 migrants died in May after their boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia. Sixteen people survived.

A total of 164 people died on the route between Libya and Europe in the first four months of 2019, UNHCR figures show.

The latest tragedy happened soon after the boat had set sail from the Libyan town of al Khoms, some 120km east of Tripoli.

The UNHCR earlier said it understood as many as 150 people were missing and 150 people had been rescued by local fishermen and returned to Libya by coastguards.

Charlie Yaxley of the UNHCR said he was concerned the survivors could be taken to two detention centres where “there’s insufficient food, water, unsanitary conditions… [and] widespread reports of human rights violations taking place”.

Earlier this month, 40 migrants were killed after a detention centre on the outskirts of Tripoli was hit in an air strike.

The country has been torn by violence and division since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.

 

 

Source: BBC


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Kennedy Mornah is an Award Winning Ghanaian Journalist with over two decades of experience in the Ghanaian Media landscape spanning the electronic, print and digital media. He is a Media Consultant, a Corporate MC, Radio and TV Host, Founder and Publisher of the Maritime and Transport Digest Newspaper, Businessman, a Go getter and an optimist. He has worked for renowned media organizations including Diamond Fm in Tamale, Luv Fm in Kumasi, Oman Fm in Accra and Starr Fm in Accra In 2017 he received the Reporter of the Year Award at the Ghana Shippers Awards in Accra, Ghana.

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