The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that around 1,000 deaths have been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea since the beginning of 2026, noting that most migrants departed from Libyan shores. The organization reported that over the past two weeks alone, at least 180 people have died or gone missing in five separate shipwrecks. The IOM also documented other incidents, including the discovery of 19 bodies aboard a boat that departed from Zuwara and drifted near the Italian island of Lampedusa, in addition to shipwrecks off Crete, Sfax, and near Turkish coasts. On March 28, 22 people died off Crete after departing from eastern Libya, while another shipwreck on March 30 near Sfax, Tunisia, resulted in 19 deaths and around 20 people missing. IOM warned that current search and rescue efforts remain insufficient, calling for expanded rescue operations and the provision of safe and legal pathways for migrants seeking to reach Europe.

Source: Libya Observer April 09, 2026 17:40 UTC