The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has issued an urgent call for action following the capsizing of a migrant boat off Libya's coast on February 5, 2026, which left 53 people dead or missing. The rubber vessel overturned north of Zuwara, marking one of the first major Mediterranean migration tragedies of the year.
Libyan authorities rescued two Nigerian women who survived the ordeal, both suffering devastating personal losses. One woman reported losing her husband, while the other lost her two infants. IOM teams provided immediate medical care to the survivors upon their return to shore.
This incident brings the Mediterranean migration death toll to at least 484 in 2026 alone, following a record 1,300 fatalities in 2025 according to IOM's Missing Migrants Project. The organization warns that smuggling networks are increasingly exploiting vulnerable migrants along the North Africa-Southern Europe route.
"These recurring tragedies demand coordinated international action," the IOM stated, emphasizing the need to dismantle human trafficking operations while ensuring safe migration pathways. The appeal comes as Mediterranean crossing attempts typically increase during calmer winter sea conditions.
