In a devastating discovery, Libyan authorities have found two mass graves in the southeastern desert containing nearly 50 bodies of migrants and refugees. This tragic event highlights the ongoing crisis faced by individuals attempting to reach Europe through Libya, a country plagued by instability and human rights abuses.
The first mass grave, located on a farm in Kufra, was discovered on Friday and contained 19 bodies. These remains have been sent for autopsy as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths. The Al-Abreen charity reported that some of the deceased appeared to have sustained gunshot wounds prior to being buried.
A second mass grave was uncovered following a raid on a human trafficking operation in Kufra. This site held at least 30 bodies, with survivor testimonies suggesting that up to 70 individuals may have been interred there. Authorities continue to search the area for additional remains.
This incident is not isolated; last year, Libyan officials exhumed at least 65 migrant bodies from another mass grave near Tripoli.
Rights groups and UN agencies have extensively documented systematic abuse against migrants in Libya, including torture, rape, extortion, and forced labor.
Libya’s instability since the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 has created an environment conducive to human trafficking. Smugglers exploit this chaos by smuggling migrants across borders into ill-equipped vessels bound for Europe via perilous sea routes.
The recent discoveries underscore the urgent need for international intervention to address these atrocities and protect vulnerable populations caught in Libya’s migration crisis.
Source: Al Jazeera
