Tripoli, June 19, 2025 – At least 60 migrants, including Pakistanis, are presumed dead following two shipwrecks off Libya’s coast last week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported, underscoring the perilous nature of Mediterranean crossings.
The first incident occurred on June 12 near Alshab port in Tripoli, where a boat carrying 26 migrants sank, leaving only five survivors. Among the 21 missing were Pakistani, Eritrean, Egyptian, and Sudanese nationals, including women and children. A second wreck on June 13, approximately 35 kilometers off Tobruk, claimed 39 lives, with a sole survivor rescued by fishermen. “These tragedies leave families in anguish and highlight the urgent need for enhanced search and rescue operations,” said Othman Belbeisi, IOM’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
The IOM notes that 743 people have died in 2025 attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, driven by dangerous smuggling practices and limited rescue resources. Libya, a key transit point, remains unstable since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi, with migrants facing detention and abuse. Earlier this year, four Pakistanis were among 11 fatalities in a similar sinking off Sirte, prompting Pakistan’s Foreign Office to call for action against human trafficking.
In response to recurring tragedies, Lahore’s Jamia Naeemia issued a religious edict condemning illegal migration, stating that risking one’s life through such means violates Islamic principles. Authorities and religious leaders urge the use of legal migration pathways to prevent further loss of life.
