At least seven Sudanese refugees have been found dead in the Libyan desert after their vehicle broke down, leaving them stranded without food or water for over a week. The incident, which occurred after the group crossed into Libya from Chad using a remote smuggling route, has once again highlighted the perils faced by migrants fleeing conflict and hardship.
Ebrahim Belhassan, Director of the Kufra Ambulance and Emergency Services, confirmed that the vehicle was carrying 34 individuals when it became immobilised in the harsh terrain of southeastern Libya. The group remained trapped for 11 days before they were eventually located among the sand dunes. “The survivors were almost about to die. They are severely dehydrated and exhibiting signs of distress and trauma with such circumstances and given that they’re seeing those around them dying and they know if they will die next,” he said.
Twenty-two survivors, including five children, were rescued and taken to Kufra for urgent medical evaluation. According to Belhassan, five individuals remain unaccounted for, with little hope that they could survive alone on foot in the unforgiving desert environment. Emergency services were alerted by a smuggler who discovered the group.
Libya, which borders six countries and has an extensive Mediterranean coastline, has become a key transit hub for migrants from Africa and the Middle East seeking to reach Europe. The country’s instability and porous borders make it a favoured route despite the life-threatening risks.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that around 787,000 migrants and refugees currently reside in Libya. Belhassan also revealed that, in the past year alone, Kufra’s ambulance service responded to more than 260 cases involving Sudanese migrants stranded in the desert, underscoring the frequency and severity of such tragedies.
