EUROPE-MIGRANTS/LIBYA BODIES Drowned migrant child found half-buried on Libya beach

Record ID: 135749

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/LIBYA BODIES Drowned migrant child found half-buried on Libya beach
  • Date: 21st October 2015
  • Summary: AL-QARBOULI, LIBYA (OCTOBER 21, 2015) (REUTERS) RED CRESCENT MEDIC APPROACHING THE BODY OF AN INFANT HALF BURIED IN BEACH NEXT TO SHORELINE MEDICS PAWING AWAY SAND TO RECOVER THE BODY MEDICS LOOKING FOR IDENTIFYING CLOTHING VARIOUS OF WORKERS/MEDICS LIFTING BODY AND PLACING IN BODY BAG MEDICS RECOVERING THE BODY OF A WOMAN AND PLACING IT IN BODY BAG
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA69SZ5BE59X95XK8M4Q0XM5LC3
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: **WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES**
    Libyan Red Crescent medics recovered the bodies of six drowned migrants, one of them an infant, on the shores of al-Qarbouli, on Wednesday (October 21), some 50 km (30 miles) east of the capital Tripoli.
    The infant lay motionless, half buried and part of his arm missing as medics tried to gently release him from the grip of the wet sand.
    Five other drowned migrants washed ashore Wednesday, including at least two women.
    Medics searched their clothing and other belongings for identification. There was no official confirmation of the nationalities of the migrants or where they were coming from.
    Red Crescent officials said they were still searching the waters near Tripoli's coast for more migrants.
    "Today, the 21st of October, 2015, we recovered six bodies and we are searching in the Qarbouli and Tajoura areas," said Red Crescent official Husam Nasr referring to coastal areas near the capital.
    Libya is a main launch point for migrants fleeing war and conflict in Africa and the Middle East.
    Smugglers and human traffickers have flourished as the country has descended into chaos since the overthrow of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi more than four years ago.
    Almost daily, migrants are detained in hideouts within Libya or rescued from boats in distress off the troubled country's shores. All of them are seeking refuge in Europe.
    The United Nations Security Council has authorised European Union naval operations for one year to seize and dispose of vessels operated by human traffickers in the high seas off Libya.
    The resolution approved the second of three phases of an EU naval mission intended to help stem the flow of migrants and refugees into Europe, which has escalated into a major crisis in recent months.
    The third phase of the EU mission, which is not covered by the resolution, would involve European operations in Libyan territorial waters and coastal areas.
    The International Organization for Migration has said that nearly 3,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean this year, while 557,899 migrants have reached Europe.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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