The National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) has announced an increase in the number of bodies found in the country’s border region, reaching 12.
Ahmed Hamza, the Head of the NCHRL, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper that, the body recovery unit, affiliated with the Libyan Emergency Medicine and Government Support Center, “recently retrieved the remains of two African migrants in the border area, bringing the total number of recovered bodies to 12, including children.”
The Government of National Unity (GNU) has formed a working group between the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, as well as the General Staff Headquarters, to coordinate efforts regarding the handling of migrants coming from Tunisia to Libya.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations continue to call upon Tunisian authorities to halt the deportation of migrants to the desert.
The rise in migrant deaths highlights the urgency of addressing the challenges faced by migrants seeking safer and better lives.
Hamza’s revelations shed light on the grim reality faced by migrants who embark on perilous journeys, often risking their lives in the hope of finding security and a brighter future.
Last week, Libyan Border Guards confirmed that their patrols had found two unidentified bodies of illegal immigrants.
The guards stated that the bodies were discovered during security patrols in the border security zone. The patrols were inspecting the area to prevent the flow and entry of migrants, who are being deported by Tunisian authorities and forcing them to enter Libyan territory.
According to the guards, one of the bodies was found near the Ain Al-Naga checkpoint, and the other near the Abu Al-Sharif checkpoint.
The guards have reported the incident to the Assa police station, and the public prosecutor’s office to take the necessary measures.
At the end of July, the Libyan Ministry of Interior announced that it had recovered the bodies of five migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, in a barren area near the border with Tunisia.
The ministry stated that security patrols discovered the bodies between the Zouara Al-Khass and Tawila Al-Rutba areas.
The fate of dozens of sub-Saharan Africans near the Libyan border has become uncertain, as they claim that Tunisian authorities transported them from the city of Sfax earlier this month.
The Tunisian government then reportedly moved them to shelters in two towns. Human rights groups have said that dozens are still stranded in extremely difficult conditions, left thirsty and hungry, in an unprecedented heatwave.
Tunisian President, Kais Saied condemned illegal migration from sub-Saharan Africa in February, saying it aimed to change the demographic structure of Tunisia. Rights groups criticized these statements as racist. The African Union also criticized Tunisia, and urged it to “avoid hate speech.”
