Tripoli, May 01 (Darfur24)
At least 17 Sudanese refugees have died and nine others remain missing after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Tobruk in eastern Libya on Wednesday, the UN refugee agency said.
In a brief statement, the agency said 33 people were on board the vessel, with only seven survivors rescued. The survivors were found in critical condition, suffering from exhaustion, hypothermia, and dehydration, and are receiving medical care from the Tobruk branch of the Red Crescent.
The agency described the incident as a stark reminder of the deadly risks refugees face while attempting dangerous journeys in the absence of safe and legal pathways.
It called for urgent efforts to end the war in Sudan and expand protection routes for those fleeing conflict, warning that such tragedies are likely to continue otherwise.
According to the latest UNHCR data, Libya hosts more than half a million Sudanese refugees across the country.