The International Organization for Migration says over 1,000 people have drowned in the Mediterranean this year.
All those who drowned were attempting to cross over to Europe using the Libyan coast.
The surge in the movement of these migrants according to the IOM is in attempt to avoid an anticipated crackdown by the European Union.
IOM worried about trend
IOM’s Libya Chief of Mission Othman Belbeisi said in a statement that “There is an alarming increase in deaths at sea off Libya’s coast.”
“Smugglers are exploiting the desperation of migrants to leave before there are further crackdowns on Mediterranean crossings by Europe” he added.
Past rescue efforts
Over the past weeks hundreds of African migrants were rescued by Libyan coastguard after the boats they were traveling in had engine failure.
They were picked up near Libya’s western coast as they head to Europe.
Libya remains the main departure point for migrants fleeing wars and poverty to reach European countries.
Libya since Moammar Gaddafi’s overthrow has become a hub for slave trade. Africans hoping to cross the Mediterranean into Europe are subjected to inhumane treatments and sold in slave markets.
Source: Africafeeds.com
