50 Sudanese Refugees Killed as Boat Catches Fire Off Libya’s Coast
Tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea as IOM Confirms Dozens Dead
At least 50 Sudanese refugees have been killed after a vessel carrying 75 people caught fire near the Libyan coast on Sunday, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Survivors, who were taken for medical treatment, described scenes of chaos as flames spread rapidly across the boat.
The IOM reported on Tuesday that 24 refugees survived and are receiving emergency medical care. The incident once again highlights the dangers of the Mediterranean migration route, one of the world’s deadliest sea crossings.
Mediterranean Migrant Crisis: A Deadly Route
The Mediterranean Sea has become a graveyard for refugees and migrants fleeing war, poverty, and persecution. According to IOM data, 2,452 people died or went missing in 2024 alone while attempting to cross from North Africa to Europe.
Libya, home to more than 867,000 migrants, has long been a major transit hub for refugees trying to reach Europe. Since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been torn apart by militia-led conflicts, making migrants vulnerable to human trafficking, extortion, torture, and abuse.
A Series of Tragedies at Sea
This latest disaster adds to a series of recent deadly incidents:
August 2025: At least 27 refugees drowned after two boats sank near the Italian island of Lampedusa.
June 2025: More than 60 migrants were feared dead after two shipwrecks off the Libyan coast.
Yemen, August 2025: At least 68 refugees died when a boat capsized in the Arabian Sea.
Human rights groups warn that the number of deaths will continue to rise unless urgent measures are taken to expand search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
EU and Libya: A Controversial Partnership
In recent years, the European Union (EU) has increased support for the Libyan coastguard, providing training, funds, and equipment. However, rights groups accuse the coastguard of working with militias and committing serious abuses against refugees, including forced detention in inhumane conditions.
Meanwhile, the reduction of state-run rescue operations has forced many NGOs to take the lead in saving lives at sea. Aid organizations argue that governments are not doing enough and are even restricting humanitarian missions, making journeys even more dangerous.
Urgent Call for Action
The IOM’s Libya office said in a statement:
“Urgent action is needed to end such tragedies at sea.”
Humanitarian groups are demanding safer migration pathways, stronger international cooperation, and protection for refugees stranded in Libya.
Until then, thousands of desperate people will continue to risk their lives in overcrowded boats, hoping to reach Europe but often meeting tragedy in the waters of the Mediterranean.
Conclusion
The Libya boat fire tragedy, which killed at least 50 Sudanese refugees, is yet another reminder of the human cost of the Mediterranean migration crisis. Unless governments and international bodies take strong, coordinated steps, the sea will continue to claim the lives of those fleeing war, persecution, and poverty.