**Urgent: 50 Sudanese Refugees Confirmed Dead in Libya Shipwreck**

UPDATE: At least 50 Sudanese refugees have tragically lost their lives in a devastating shipwreck off the coast of Tobruk, Libya. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, involved a rubber boat carrying 75 refugees that caught fire while attempting to reach Greece, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) spokesperson who spoke to AFP.

The IOM has confirmed that 24 survivors were rescued and provided with immediate lifesaving medical care. However, the spokesperson did not clarify if one additional person remains missing. The loss of over half of those on board highlights the dire risks faced by migrants attempting the perilous journey across the central Mediterranean, known as one of the deadliest migrant routes globally.

This tragic event underscores the immense challenges confronting refugees fleeing conflict and instability, particularly from war-torn Sudan. The ongoing conflict between the army and paramilitary forces has pushed more than 140,000 refugees into Libya over the past two years, nearly doubling the number of Sudanese refugees in the country.

In 2023 alone, the IOM reported that at least 456 people died and 420 were reported missing along the central Mediterranean route between January 1 and September 13. Furthermore, Libyan authorities have intercepted and returned 17,402 migrants this year, including 1,516 women and 586 children, reflecting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

As Libya grapples with political instability and division following the NATO-backed uprising that ousted longtime leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, smugglers and human traffickers continue to exploit vulnerable migrants. Rights groups report rampant human rights violations, including extortion and slavery.

The IOM’s grim statistics for 2023 indicate that 2,573 people attempting to reach Europe have died in the Mediterranean Sea. This harrowing shipwreck serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for international attention and response.

As the situation develops, the global community is urged to take immediate action to address the root causes of migration and provide support to those affected by these tragedies. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.