The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has deployed emergency response teams to eastern Libya following the rescue of hundreds of migrants from illegal detention sites where they were held in severe and inhumane conditions.
In a statement, IOM said its teams are providing urgent humanitarian assistance to migrants freed during recent security operations in Ajdabiya and Kufra. The interventions include medical screenings, hospital referrals for critical cases, and the distribution of essential supplies, including warm clothing.
“These shocking cases highlight the severe risks faced by migrants who fall prey to criminal networks operating along migration routes,” said Nicoletta Giordano, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Libya. She added that the abuses uncovered underscore the urgent need to strengthen protection mechanisms, combat human trafficking and smuggling, and ensure accountability for those responsible.
In Ajdabiya, Libyan authorities closed an illegal detention site, freeing 195 migrants and discovering a nearby mass burial site containing the remains of 21 individuals. Preliminary investigations indicate that the victims had been held captive and subjected to torture as part of extortion schemes aimed at forcing ransom payments from their families.
In a separate operation in Kufra, security forces uncovered an underground detention facility located approximately three metres below ground. The operation led to the release of 221 migrants and refugees, including women and children, among them a one-month-old infant. Initial findings suggest the detainees had been held for an extended period under grossly inhumane conditions, with at least ten people requiring urgent hospitalisation.
IOM acknowledged the efforts of Libyan authorities in rescuing survivors, identifying victims, and initiating investigations. The organisation stressed the importance of strengthening monitoring systems, improving data collection, and enhancing referral pathways to dismantle criminal networks and prevent further loss of life.
IOM reaffirmed its commitment to supporting migrants in need while working with Libyan institutions to advance protection-focused counter-trafficking measures and rights-based migration management.
