Mediterranean Claims Dozens of Sudanese Migrants

About 15 Sudanese refugees have died, more than 20 are missing, and 63 were rescued after a boat carrying them sank while attempting to reach the Greek shores illegally.

The Libyan Coast Guard, via its official Facebook page, confirmed rescuing 63 Sudanese migrants off the coast of Tobruk, without providing further details about the incident.

Mubarak Mohammed Abdullah, a member of the Sudanese community in Benghazi, told Darfur24 that around 100 young Sudanese left Tobruk’s coast in the early hours of Saturday heading to Greece. However, high waves caused the boat to capsize, while the Libyan Coast Guard managed to rescue the majority.

Abdullah added that all deceased migrants are from Al-Gezira state, mainly from the villages of Al-Sedaira, Al-Managil, Al-Esailat, Al-Gwaiz, Al-Dalita, Wad Bakhit, and Al-Debiba.

Meanwhile, a survivor who missed the trip, preferring to remain anonymous, said the youths boarded a rubber boat from Tobruk’s shore, each paying 13,000 Libyan dinars (approximately 5 million Sudanese pounds).

He added: “The Libyan authorities transferred the bodies to Benghazi Hospital morgue, while the survivors were referred to the Qanfouda detention center after being handed over to the Anti-Illegal Migration Authority.

Rescue teams have continued searching for the missing in the Mediterranean since yesterday.”

Relatives of one of the deceased confirmed that reports of 50 deaths were inaccurate, clarifying that the number of dead is 15, all from Al-Gezira state.

They also stated that the Libyan authorities currently detain anyone who seeks information about the bodies or missing persons.