*By Moses Simon, AfriVerse International Correspondent | February 9, 2026*
TRIPOLI/GENEVA
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Two Babies Among 53 Dead or Missing After Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Libya
*Source: IOM, UN News | February 9, 2026*
**GENEVA/TRIPOLI** — Fifty-three migrants, including two babies, are dead or missing after a rubber boat carrying 55 people capsized off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed on Monday.
What Happened
The vessel overturned north of Zuwara, Libya, on February 6, 2026. Only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation by Libyan authorities.
One survivor reported losing her husband in the tragedy, while the other said she lost both of her babies.
According to survivor accounts, the boat—carrying migrants and refugees of African nationalities—departed from Al-Zawiya, Libya, at around 11:00 p.m. on February 5. Approximately six hours later, it capsized after taking on water.
IOM teams provided the two survivors with emergency medical care upon disembarkation, in coordination with relevant authorities.
"IOM does not consider Libya to be a safe port for migrants," the agency stated, citing the ongoing dangers migrants face in the country.
The Bigger Picture
- **In January 2026 alone**, at least 375 migrants were reported dead or missing following multiple shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean amid extreme weather
- **So far in 2026**, at least 484 migrants have been reported dead or missing on this route
- **In 2025**, more than 1,300 migrants went missing in the Central Mediterranean
- **This year**, 781 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya, with 244 returned just last week
Ongoing Dangers in Libya
IOM also highlighted the discovery of mass graves and illegal detention sites in eastern Libya:
- In Ajdabiya, authorities raided an illegal detention site where investigations indicate victims had been held in captivity and subjected to torture to coerce ransom payments from their families
- In Kufra, authorities discovered an underground detention site three metres below ground, where 221 migrants and refugees were released, including women, children, and a one-month-old baby
- Initial information suggests the migrants had been held for a prolonged period in "grossly inhumane conditions"
Calls for Action
IOM warned that trafficking and smuggling networks continue to exploit migrants along the Central Mediterranean route, profiting from dangerous crossings in unseaworthy boats while exposing people to severe abuse and protection risks.
The agency stressed the need for:
- Stronger international cooperation
- Protection-centered responses to address smuggling and trafficking networks
- Safe and regular migration pathways to reduce risks and save lives.
To help vulnerable people on the move, IOM supports voluntary flights home for foreign nationals, including:
- A flight last week for Pakistani nationals who had reached Tripoli
- A voluntary humanitarian flight in late January that helped 177 Nigerian migrants return home
The tragedy off Libya's coast is not an isolated incident but a recurring catastrophe—one that demands not just mourning, but meaningful action from the international community. Until that action comes, the Mediterranean will continue to claim lives, and families across Africa will continue to wait for loved ones who may never return.
*Sources: [IOM Press Release](https://www.iom.int/news/two-babies-among-53-dead-or-missing-after-migrant-boat-capsizes-libya), [UN News](https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1166922)*
