Tragedy at Sea: Dozens of Migrants Feared Dead Off Libyan Coast

TRIPOLI: Recent shipwrecks off the Libyan coast have resulted in the presumed loss of at least 60 migrants, including Pakistani citizens, according to information released by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

The initial incident occurred on June 12 near Tripoli, a Libyan port city. Reports indicate 21 individuals, encompassing women and children, are missing, with only five having been rescued, the IOM stated on Tuesday. The missing individuals were of Eritrean, Pakistani, Egyptian, and Sudanese origin.

A subsequent shipwreck transpired approximately 35 kilometers from Tobruk. The lone survivor reported 39 individuals lost at sea, as per the UN agency.

Othman Belbeisi, IOM’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, emphasized the need for increased international support. “With scores feared dead and families facing immense grief, IOM is again appealing to the international community to enhance search and rescue efforts and ensure secure and reliable disembarkation for those who survive,” Belbeisi stated.

The IOM statement revealed that at least 743 individuals have perished this year while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.

The perilous journey, according to the statement, is “characterised by increasingly risky smuggling methods, insufficient rescue capabilities, and growing constraints on humanitarian operations”.

In April, a vessel carrying foreign citizens capsized near the Harawa coast of Sirte in eastern Libya. The Foreign Office (FO) confirmed that four Pakistani citizens were among the 11 bodies recovered.

This incident has further highlighted the pattern of migrant boat disasters, resulting in significant loss of life, with multiple incidents in recent months claiming the lives of numerous Pakistanis.

In response to these tragedies, Jamia Naeemia in Lahore has issued a religious decree against using unlawful means to travel abroad from Pakistan.

The religious edict, delivered by Dr. Mufti Raghib Hussain Naeemi and Mufti Imran Hanfi, declared that utilizing illegal methods to travel abroad is not only unlawful but also violates Shariah law.

The decree further stated that committing suicide or engaging in any action that endangers one’s life is contrary to Islamic Shariah principles.

The decree advised individuals considering traveling abroad to pursue legal and safe methods, asserting that intentionally ending one’s life or taking actions leading to death is strictly forbidden in Islam under any circumstances.