Migrant's bodies wash ashore in Libya

At least 90 migrants have drowned after their boat capsized off the coastal city of Zuwara in Libya, the UN migration agency (IOM) reported on Friday.

The bodies of two Libyans and eight Pakistanis washed ashore, while two survivors swam to shore and a third was rescued by a fishing boat.

The survivors said that most of those who drowned were from Pakistan, as IOM records show increasing numbers of Pakistanis are attempting the treacherous crossing to Italy.

While Pakistani nationals ranked thirteenth on a list of the number of migrants trying to reach Europe in 2017, so far this year they are already the third highest by nationality, IOM said.

Roughly 240 reached Italy in January this year, up from only nine in January 2017.

This latest tragedy comes as the UN migration agency reports that 6,624 migrants and refugees have entered Europe by sea through 28 January this year, up from 5,983 during a similar period in 2017.

UN Radio/GBCONLINE
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