The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that 452 migrants were intercepted in the Mediterranean and returned to Libya between August 3 and August 9, 2025. According to the agency’s weekly report, one migrant died during the period, while among those returned were 66 women and 25 children, along with others whose family status could not be determined.
The IOM noted that these migrants were brought back to Libya after being stopped at sea, part of ongoing operations to curb irregular migration through one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. Libya remains a major transit hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe via the central Mediterranean, despite the risks involved.
Since the start of 2025 up to August 9, a total of more than 14,000 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya. During the same period, at least 370 deaths were recorded, along with 300 people reported missing at sea.
While the figures remain high, the IOM report pointed out a noticeable decline compared to previous years. In 2024, there were more than 665 confirmed deaths and over 1,000 missing migrants, while 2023 recorded approximately 962 deaths, 1,536 missing persons, and over 17,190 migrants returned to Libya.
The organization warned that, although numbers have fallen, the central Mediterranean route continues to pose extreme dangers due to unsafe vessels, human smuggling networks, and inadequate search and rescue capacity.
Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized the policy of returning migrants to Libya, citing poor conditions in detention centers and the risk of abuse. Nonetheless, interceptions at sea and returns to Libyan shores remain a central feature of regional migration control strategies.
