A disaster for dozens of Sudanese trying to migrate to Europe

A boat carrying 81 migrants from Egypt and Sudan has capsized off the coast of the Libyan city of Tobruk while trying to reach Europe. Only six Egyptian migrants were rescued, while dozens remain missing, amid fears that many may have drowned or are still stranded at sea clinging to the remains of the boat.

According to the Libyan Transit Foundation for Migrant Assistance, a search and rescue organization, one of the survivors, Amir Ahmed Al-Siddig from Assiut Governorate, managed to swim for hours until he reached shore. He noted that a large number of migrants drowned in front of him, while others continued to call for help while clinging to the remains of the boat.

The boat had left the Libyan coast on Wednesday before sinking under unclear circumstances, likely caused by bad weather or overcrowding.

The foundation issued an urgent distress call to the concerned parties, including the Libyan Coast Guard and international organizations, to intensify the search for possible survivors. It also provided urgent relief assistance to survivors suffering from severe physical exhaustion and psychological trauma as a result of the incident.