At least 23 Somali and three Eritrean migrants died in an overturned truck accident in Libya, Kenya's Africa Review reported Saturday (December 29th).
The migrants were reportedly heading to Tripoli with the ultimate goal of reaching Europe by sea, when the truck they were being smuggled in went off road to avoid checkpoints.
Trucks carrying illegal migrants often use roads without checkpoints, which are less safe, Somali Ambassador to Libya Abdigani Mohamed Wa'ays said. The truck was carrying about 120 migrants, mostly Somalis, he said.
Fifty-eight of the surviving migrants are being held in Libyan jail, while the injured passengers are receiving treatment in hospital, Wa'ays said.
Initial reports indicate the truck was also carrying cement. Shabelle Media Network correspondent in Tripoli Mohamed Abdi Nahar said human traffickers have started smuggling migrants under a cement cover, increasing the chance of casualties in the event of an accident.
"Since the police noticed the use of grass as a cover, smugglers turned to hiding the people being smuggled under a ceiling of cement and other goods," he said.
Monday 31 December 2012
http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/articles/newsbriefs/2012/12/30/newsbrief-03
No comments:
Post a Comment