Benghazi, May 23 (Darfur24)
Libyan authorities announced the rescue of dozens of Sudanese refugees stranded in the desert after six Sudanese travelers died during a dangerous smuggling journey across remote routes linking Chad and Libya.
In a statement published on its official Facebook page, the Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency said security patrols intercepted two four-wheel-drive vehicles carrying 52 migrants, including 49 Sudanese refugees and three Chadian nationals.
According to the agency, the group had departed from the Kouri Bougadi mining area inside Chad and traveled through isolated desert routes commonly used by human smuggling networks.
Investigations revealed that the refugees endured severe humanitarian conditions during the journey, including extreme thirst, exhaustion of food and water supplies, and getting lost deep in the desert.
The agency said six Sudanese refugees died along the way after the group became stranded, with their bodies left behind in the desert because of the harsh terrain and the inability of the survivors to transport them.
Authorities said the Public Prosecution had been notified and that coordination was underway with the Libyan Red Crescent to locate and recover the bodies, believed to be around 300 kilometers southwest of the oasis region.
The agency warned against relying on smuggling networks and irregular migration routes, saying such journeys frequently end in tragedy and death in remote desert areas without access to rescue or humanitarian assistance.