At least four people have died after two boats carrying migrants and asylum seekers capsized off Libya’s coast, the Libyan Red Crescent reported on Saturday. The incidents occurred near the coastal city of al-Khums on Thursday night.

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Details of the Capsizes

• The first boat, carrying 26 people from Bangladesh, resulted in four deaths.
• The second boat had 69 people, including two Egyptians and dozens of Sudanese, along with eight children. The Red Crescent did not specify additional casualties.

Al-Khums is located 118 km (73 miles) east of Tripoli. Rescue operations involved coastguards and the Al-Khums Port Security Agency, with survivors receiving first aid and thermal blankets. The recovered bodies were handed over to local authorities following instructions from the city’s public prosecution.

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Libya as a Migrant Transit Route

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has become a key transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, seeking passage to Europe.

Recent incidents highlight the dangers migrants face at sea:

• On November 13, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported 42 migrants missing, presumed dead, after a rubber boat sank near the Al Buri oilfield.
• In mid-October, 61 bodies were recovered west of Tripoli.
• In September, a vessel carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire, killing at least 50.

International human rights groups have repeatedly condemned abuse and neglect in Libya’s detention centers, with countries including the UK, Spain, Norway, and Sierra Leone urging their closure at a recent UN meeting in Geneva.

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Key Takeaways

• Four confirmed dead after two migrant boats capsized off Libya’s coast.
• Survivors rescued by Libyan Red Crescent and local authorities.
• Libya remains a dangerous transit route for migrants heading to Europe.
• Recent months have seen multiple deadly incidents at sea, raising humanitarian concerns.