Four people, including two young children, have died in the central Mediterranean attempting to cross from Libya. These deaths are the lethal outcome of Europe’s conscious strategy to prioritize border control above human rights.
The EU is failing migrants, putting them at risk of exploitation and even death.
A tragedy that could have been avoided
According to a statement from German charity RESQSHIP, their vessel NADIR responded to a mayday alert issued by the EU border agency Frontex. They found 62 people adrift in international waters under Malta’s jurisdiction. The migrants had departed from western Libya three days earlier in an overloaded rubber dinghy with a broken engine.
By the time NADIR arrived, two children aged 3 and 4 were already dead. A third person found unconscious died shortly after, and survivors reported a fourth person had drowned during the journey. The group included nationals from Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Nigeria—many of whom were suffering from fuel burns and dehydration.
The AP reports,
“This tragedy could have been avoided. It is yet another example of the failure of European migration policies,” RESQSHIP said in a statement. “Instead of coordinating support and facilitating safe passages, Europe is abandoning defenceless people – with deadly consequences. Children dying of thirst on the move is an inexcusable political failure.”
An Italian coast guard vessel arrived four hours later. They evacuated six people in critical condition, including two babies and their mothers.
Europe’s hypocrisy revealed
Frontex confirmed that, “The mayday relay clearly indicated an urgent situation involving a vessel in distress.”
Frontex has long claimed that its actions at sea are about saving lives. In an interview earlier last month, Frontex chief Hans Leijtens told Euronews, “I don’t want people to be returned to Libya… but if I have to choose, I’d rather save lives than not save lives.” Yet, by alerting Libyan authorities and failing to coordinate with NGOs better equipped for rescue, Frontex often enables returns to Libya, where migrants are routinely trafficked and abused, or inadvertently causes drowning.
Trafficking risks in Libya remain severe
Libya remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for migrants. Survivors report being detained in both official and unofficial facilities where they face extortion, forced labor, and sexual violence.
The UN has repeatedly documented patterns of systematic abuse in Libyan detention centers, including trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation. According to advocates, a significant record of migrant deaths and disappearances in Libya last year occurred on land routes—many as a result of trafficking and exploitation.
Despite repeated documentation of abuse and slavery in detention centers, states continue to enable returns to the region. As long as the international community fails to prioritize migrant safety and dismantle systems that fuel exploitation, these tragedies will continue.
It’s time to end the cruel strategy of letting people die at sea or forcing them back into conditions where they face modern slavery. With few safe and legal routes to asylum—and amid ongoing conflict, human rights abuses, and deep poverty—people are left with no choice but to risk dangerous journeys.
The Freedom United community calls on governments to stop fueling vulnerability and start protecting people. We demand migration policies that uphold human dignity and safety—not ones that trade lives for deterrence. Join us today.
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