The EU is facing renewed accusations of funding human rights abuses in Libya. With growing reports of torture, extortion, slavery and murder surfacing from the North African country, migrants are joining the voices of those calling for lasting change.
At least 15 migrants have been found dead in the desert region along the country’s southeastern border with Sudan. Some sources claim there could be more victims.
Having spent more than a week onboard the Geo Barents rescue ship in the Mediterranean Sea, 659 refugees have finally been given clearance to disembark in Italy. They are expected to arrive in Taranto on the morning of August 5.
A joint report from Human Rights Watch and Border Forensics says Frontex and the EU's use of drones is posing a "threat to migrants and refugees."
A media report suggests that Germany's governing coalition wants to retain the deal with Libya's coast guard despite election promises to end it. The cooperation is highly controversial due to well-documented human rights violations in Libyan migrant camps.
The UN Migration Agency (IOM) has shared its latest numbers on returns to Libya. Almost 300 migrants were returned to Libya in one week, taking the total number of returns thus far this year to more than 10,200.
The Malian government has confirmed that 22 Malians, including three children, died off the coast of Libya when their boat got into trouble towards the end of June.
The UN Migration Agency (IOM) has confirmed that Libyan authorities brought at least 590 migrants back to Libya in just under a week. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Navy says it has rescued 105 migrants in the last few days.
Two private rescue ships, the Sea-Eye 4 and the Aita Mari, have carried out rescues relatively close to each other not too far off the Libyan and Tunisian coasts. Sea-Eye 4 rescued 63 migrants on Tuesday and Aita Mari carried out a rescue on Wednesday of 17.
There are 356 migrants on board the Sea-Watch 3 rescue ship in the Mediterranean Sea at the moment after a series of multiple rescues over the weekend. The latest took place on June 6, when 49 migrants were picked up south of Lampedusa.
At least four migrants were confirmed dead and three missing after their boat capsized off the Libyan coast. With warmer weather, scores of migrants continue to try to cross the Mediterranean, departing from the shores of the troubled North African nation.
Three private rescue ships in the Mediterranean are now waiting for ports in which to disembark the more than 500 migrants they collectively rescued. Sea-Watch 4 has 145 on board, the Geo Barents 470, and 34 people are on deck the Sea-Eye 4.