About 100 people are feared to have drowned off the coast of Libya after their smuggler abandoned them on the high seas without a motor, increasing the Mediterranean death toll this year to an unprecedented 4,700. The inflatable boat sank after smugglers, who had towed the dinghy out to sea, returned to land with its engine and the migrants’ lifejackets, several survivors told MSF. Additionally, navies from countries such as Britain are intercepting and destroying Libyan smugglers’ repurposed fishing trawlers after they enter international waters. These can be driven by the refugees themselves, allowing the smugglers to remain at large in Libya. Around 70% say they faced some kind of exploitation in Libya, according to research by the International Organisation for Migration.

Source: The Guardian November 17, 2016 12:11 UTC