At Least 33 Migrants Drowned in Separate Incidents on Saturday

By Whitney Kimball  |  January 7, 2018 | 5:48pm
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Calling attention to a new study finding that 3,116 migrants died crossing the Mediterranean Sea last year, two migrant boats capsized or sank on Saturday on their way from Africa to Italy, killing dozens. At least 25 people drowned off the coast of Libya after their boat capsized, and separately at least 8 women drowned in a smuggler’s dinghy coming from Libya, according to NPR.

Libya is a common route for people fleeing war, poverty, and government oppression as well as human traffickers because in the wake of Moammar Gadhafi’s death, Libya lacks governmental structure to monitor its borders, MSNBC has reported. According to the study by the International Organization for Migration, most enter through Italy, which has threatened to reject rescue ships at their ports.

The Italian coastguard has reported that in both cases, the search for survivors is ongoing. The Associated Press reports that dozens may still be missing.

It’s unclear from news reports where each group came from and why.

Jezebel has reached out to the German NGO Sea-Watch which reportedly sent a rescue operation to the scene of 25 deaths, the Italian coastguard, and the EU’s border management agency. We will update the post if we hear back.

 
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