Rescue crews in eastern Libya recovered five decomposed bodies suspected to be migrants.
Authorities located the remains 550 kilometers south of Tobruk in the Great Sand Sea.
Workers transported the bodies to Tobruk, the Red Crescent confirmed.
The group called the discovery part of the “death journey” migrants endure through deserts.
Local aid group Abreen suggested the victims were Sudanese and released photos of the operation.
Libya as a Dangerous Migration Hub
Libya borders six countries and stretches along the Mediterranean, making it a major route to Europe.
Migrants fleeing conflict and poverty face perilous land and sea crossings from Libyan territory.
In December, 61 migrants drowned near Zuwara on Libya’s western coast.
In May, seven Sudanese migrants died after their vehicle broke down in the desert.
Rescuers found them 11 days later, after food and water ran out.
Rising Migration Pressure and Regional Response
The IOM estimated 787,000 migrants and refugees lived in Libya in 2024.
UNHCR reported 32,400 migrants crossed from Libya to Europe in 2021, double the 2020 figure.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed boosting Frontex staff by 30,000 in April.
Officials said the expansion would strengthen efforts to secure Europe’s external borders.
