Mediterranean

In the dim early hours of Friday morning, the treacherous waters off Libya claimed the lives of at least 15 Egyptians when a migrant boat, destined for European shores, capsized amid the inky darkness. The tragedy unfolded near Tobruk, a coastal town etched with complex legacies of migration and despair. The Human Toll Marwan al-Shaeri, media spokesperson for Tobruk's coast guard, confirmed the victims were Egyptian nationals. As rescue efforts struggled against the tides, two Sudanese crew members emerged as survivors,…

Firefighters, troops and civilian volunteers fought fires in forests in northern Algeria on Wednesday when the country killed at least 65 people in the latest forest fires that hit the Mediterranean. Soldiers deployed to support the overcrowded rescue services are fighting the outbreak of more than 50 fires that broke out on Tuesday and accounted for 28 of those killed, state television reported. Authorities say they suspect widespread arson after so many fires broke out in such a short time. They…

Every summer, migration flows to Europe increase. Sailing conditions are better than in winter and there are more attempts to cross the Mediterranean. But the journey is still very dangerous: the central Mediterranean, between Libya and Europe, is still the deadliest migration route in the world. In the last seven days, Ocean Viking, the SOS Mediterranean ship, has rescued 572 people at sea.…

Since final week, Italy has expressed its anger at Libya. Fishermen accused of violating maritime area say they have been attacked with stay bullets by Libyan coastguards. Regardless of Italian anger, the Libyan ambassador to Rome believes that this incident could have no penalties for relations between the 2 international locations.…

The shipwrecked migrants we spoke to explained that if they try such a dangerous crossing, it is partly due to their terrible living conditions in Libya, where they risk all kinds of abuse. Libya cannot be considered a safe haven. Migrants caught at sea and returned there are immediately placed in detention centers, where the UN has documented its catastrophic living conditions: extreme poverty, risk of kidnapping, human trafficking ... Under international law, migrants rescued at sea must be taken…