Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

65 bodies found in mass grave in Libya desert in alleged smuggling

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 23 Mar 2024 12:26
3 Min Read

The IOM expresses being “profoundly shocked and alarmed” as it noted that the circumstances of the deaths “remain unknown".

  • x
  • Migrants are rescued from the sea some 30 miles off Libya by the members of the humanitarian ship Geo Barents, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (AP)
    Migrants are rescued from the sea some 30 miles off Libya by the members of the humanitarian ship Geo Barents, Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (AP)

The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that at least 65 bodies have been found in a mass grave in the desert in southwest Libya this week after being uncovered by Libyan security forces.

In its statement, the IOM expressed being “profoundly shocked and alarmed” as it noted that the circumstances of the deaths “remain unknown, but it is believed that they died in the process of being smuggled through the desert”.

The IOM praised Libyan authorities for having launched an investigation into the deaths, calling on them to “ensure a dignified recovery, identification, and transfer of the remains of the deceased migrants" and notify their families.

An IOM spokesperson said, “Each report of a missing migrant or a loss of life represents a grieving family searching for answers about their loved ones or acknowledging the tragedy of the loss... The cost of inadequate action is evident in the increasing human deaths and the disturbing conditions migrants find themselves in.”

Read next: 61 migrants presumed dead after boat capsizes off Libya coast

According to the statement, the deaths show “the urgent need to address the challenges of irregular migration including through a coordinated response to the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons."

Related News

France-UK migration pact faces EU review and public backlash

Venezuelan Parliament demands return of 18 children detained in US

“Without regular pathways that provide opportunities for legal migration, such tragedies will continue to be a feature along this route."

NATO war role in Libya catastrophe, mayhem

After the NATO-backed insurgency in Libya that was accompanied by a direct hostile intervention by the alliance, Libya has been a battlefield for global powers, which led to different regions of the country falling under the control of various factions and militants due to the lack of any stable and central governance of the war-torn country.

Among the implications of the West-led war is the North African nation turning into a fertile ground for people smugglers and traffickers, who have long been accused of abuses against migrants.

According to Gregory Shupak of Responsible Statecraft, in a report on September 2023, NATO, particularly Britain, the US, and France, took it upon themselves to overthrow the Libyan government and conducted 9,700 airstrikes, dropping over 7,7000 precision-guided bombs.

The bombing, according to him, killed thousands of Libyans NATO claimed to be saving. In addition, it allowed for tens of thousands of weapons to be trickled down through Libya, the Sahel, and even in Syria, according to Shupak.

This view, according to him, has not been expressed in any mainstream media outlets, even those that mention "war".

Shupak noted that he looked for material in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post throughout six days, finding that 40 of the 67 results he got, which included the words “Libya” and “floods" variations, also included the word "war".

In addition, only 3 of the 40 documents that included the word "war" also contained words such as "NATO" and two articles included the words "NATO" but not "war" and called NATO's role an "intervention", something he believes does not give readers real insight into NATO's responsibility in Libya's instability.

  • Migrant Crisis
  • IOM
  • Libya
  • mass grave

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS