Migrant vessel capsizes off Libya, drowning more than 60

December 18, 2023

GS Paper II International Relations

Context: A boat carrying over 60 Europe-bound migrants, including women and children, capsized off the coast of Libya.

Migrant vessel capsizes off Libya

The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the shipwreck occurred near the town of Zuwara on Libya’s western coast.
The IOM estimates that more than 2,200 people have drowned till December 2023 this year, making it one of the most dangerous migration routes in the world.
Libya is among the main departure points for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean and enter Europe.

About Libya

Migrant vessel capsizes off Libya

Libya, a predominantly desert nation with significant oil reserves, gained independence in 1951.
Geography and Population: Libya, situated in North Africa, primarily consists of the vast Sahara desert.
The majority of its population resides along the coastal areas, where key cities like Tripoli and Benghazi are located.
Libya is geographically defined by its boundaries:
- North: Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea.
- East: Shares a border with Egypt.
- South: Shares boundaries with Niger and Chad.
- West: Bordered by Tunisia and Algeria.
Capital: Tripoli
Language: Arabic

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

About: IOM is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners.

Genesis: Established in 1951

Members: 175 member states, 8 observer status and offices in 171 countries.

Objective:

IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration to promote international cooperation on migration issues,
to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people.

Mandate: IOM works in the four broad areas of migration management: