Over 500 migrants have died in Mediterranean so far this year 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said over 500 migrants have died trying to cross the Mediterranean between January and October this year, adding that the actual number was certainly higher given that many deaths often go unreported.

In the last week of October, at least 11 migrants, including a pregnant woman, died trying to reach Europe after their boat capsized off the coast of Libya. According to IOM, Libya’s coast guards rescued around ten migrants from the shipwreck with the help of local fishermen. The incident was the third migrant shipwreck off the coast of Libya in a week. 

Libya is a key transit point for African migrants hoping to cross to Europe but many are intercepted by the Libyan authorities and returned to detention centres.

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Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Songpholt

Image Caption: Life jackets floating in the sea next to rocks