At least 74 migrants died after their Europe-bound ship broke down off the coast of Libya on Thursday, the United Nations' migration agency said, with 47 survivors brought to shore by coastguards and fishermen.
The boat was carrying over 120 migrants, including women and children when it capsized off the coast of the Libyan port of al-Khums, said the International Organization for Migration. Only 47 people were rescued by the Libyan coast guard and fisherman and brought to shore.
At least 900 have already drowned this year attempting the crossing, according to the agency, IOM.
Another 11,000 have been stopped at sea and returned to Libya, where migrants are often detained, exploited or abused.
“The mounting loss of life in the Mediterranean is a manifestation of the inability of States to take decisive action to redeploy much needed, dedicated Search and Rescue capacity in the deadliest sea-crossing in the world,” said Federico Soda, IOM Libya Chief of Mission.
IOM and the UN refugee agency UNHCR have both said that Libya should not be considered a safe port of return, and that migrants rescued or stopped at sea should not be taken back there.
