Libya Discovers 50 Migrant Bodies in Mass Graves

Libyan authorities uncover mass graves containing the remains of 50 migrants, raising concerns over human trafficking and migrant safety.

Libyan authorities discovered nearly 50 bodies this week in two mass graves located in the country’s southeastern desert, as reported by officials. This tragic event is part of an ongoing series involving individuals attempting to reach Europe via the North African nation.

Nineteen bodies were discovered on a farm in the city of Kufra on Friday.

Authorities shared images on their Facebook page depicting police officers and medics digging in the sand to recover bodies wrapped in blankets.

Mass graves of migrants are a frequent occurrence in Libya. In the previous year, officials discovered the remains of at least 65 migrants in the Shuayrif region, located approximately 350 kilometers (220 miles) south of Tripoli, the capital.

Libya serves as the primary transit hub for migrants from Africa and the Middle East attempting to reach Europe. Human traffickers have exploited over a decade of instability, facilitating the smuggling of migrants across Libya’s borders with six neighboring countries: Chad, Niger, Sudan, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia.