Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported the tragic recovery of 11 bodies from the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday, June 8th.
The bodies were found off the coast of Libya, a common departure point for migrants desperately seeking safety in Europe.
The discovery came after a search operation exceeding nine hours, initiated by MSF’s Geo Barents rescue vessel following an alert from another humanitarian organization, Sea-Watch.
The cause of death for the migrants remains unclear, with Sea-Watch stating they attempted, unsuccessfully, to contact the Libyan coast guard for assistance in recovering the bodies.
This grim discovery adds to the ever-growing human cost of the perilous journey across the central Mediterranean.
MSF, in a social media post, highlighted the lack of safe and legal pathways for migrants, urging European nations to find solutions to this ongoing crisis.
The recovered bodies were transferred to an Italian coast guard vessel near Lampedusa Island.
Meanwhile, MSF expressed frustration over being directed to disembark the remaining 165 rescued migrants at the northern port of Genoa.
This decision, they argue, significantly delays the provision of vital assistance to the survivors.
The central Mediterranean route remains the deadliest migration route globally, with over 3,000 people going missing in 2023 alone, according to the International Organization for Migration.
This incident underscores the urgency for international cooperation in addressing this humanitarian crisis.
