The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed that some of the bodies of migrants found in mass graves in Libya bear gunshot wounds. The discoveries were made in two separate sites, one containing up to 70 bodies and another with 19 victims.
In a desert north of Kufra city, authorities recovered at least 28 bodies from a mass grave, attributing the deaths to torture and inhumane treatment by a gang. Meanwhile, 19 more bodies were found in a mass grave in the Jikharra area of southeastern Libya, blamed on a known smuggling network.
According to IOM Senior Program Coordinator Franz Prutsch, the bodies showed signs of injuries, including inflicted wounds and gunshots. The exact duration for which the bodies had been in the graves remains unclear.
Libya has become a transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty, with 22% of recorded migrant deaths occurring on land routes. In January, Libyan authorities freed 263 migrants from poor human and health conditions held by a smuggling gang.
The discovery highlights the dire situation faced by migrants in Libya, who are often subjected to abuse and neglect before attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/migrants-bodies-libya-mass-graves-had-gunshot-wounds-iom-says-2025-02-10