At least seven Sudanese migrants found dead after being stranded in Libyan desert

Published on 23/05/2025 - 18:55 GMT+2

At slightest 7 migrants from Sudan person been recovered dormant aft their conveyance collapsed down and near them stranded for days heavy successful nan Libyan desert, according to an ambulance work official.

The car was carrying 34 Sudanese nationals erstwhile it collapsed down crossing Libya's separator from Chad and onto a deserted way often utilized by smugglers, Ebrahim Belhassan, head of nan Kufra Ambulance and Emergency Services, said.

They were discovered successful nan soil dunes aft 11 days, having tally retired of nutrient and water, he said.

"The survivors were almost astir to die. They are severely dehydrated and exhibiting signs of distress and trauma pinch specified circumstances and fixed that they’re seeing those astir them dying and they cognize if they will dice next," he said.

The 22 group rescued, including 5 children, were transferred to Kufra for aesculapian checks.

Five group are missing, but Belhassan said hopes were slim they would past connected ft successful nan immense desert.

A smuggler who recovered them alerted emergency crews, Belhassan said.

Libya, which shares borders pinch six nations and has a agelong coastline on nan Mediterranean, is a main transit constituent for migrants fleeing warfare and poorness successful Africa and nan Middle East, and often trying to scope Europe.

The International Organization for Migration estimates astir 787,000 migrants and refugees from various nationalities lived successful Libya arsenic of 2024.

During past year, nan Kufra ambulance work responded to emergencies involving much than 260 Sudanese migrants recovered successful nan desert, Belhassan said.