Iraq Investigates Fate of Missing Kurdish Migrants in Libya

At a Glance

The Iraqi Embassy in Libya has launched an expedited investigation into the fate of 18 Kurdish migrants missing at sea.
Chargé d'Affaires al-Sahaf confirmed the embassy has received no official notification from Libyan authorities regarding any drownings.
The 18 missing individuals departed Libya for Italy on August 16 and remain officially unaccounted for.

Ahmed al-Sahaf, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Iraqi Embassy in Libya, stated that diplomatic officials are conducting an expedited follow-up to determine the fate of the 18 Kurdish migrants feared drowned in the Mediterranean Sea.

Key Statements and Focus Area

The Chargé d'Affaires of the Iraqi Embassy told Channel8 and confirmed that the embassy has not yet received any official notification from the Libyan authorities regarding the drowning of these citizens.
Unverified social media reports surfaced last week alleging the drowning and subsequent discovery of 18 Kurdish migrants in the Mediterranean Sea during an irregular transit from Libya to Europe.

Speaking to Channel8 about the whereabouts of a number of Kurdish migrants, Chargé d'Affaires al-Sahaf emphasized that continuous coordination is underway with Libyan security authorities, the healthcare sector, and the Libyan Red Crescent to ascertain the fate of the migrants.

He noted that the Iraqi Embassy in Tripoli is currently verifying all information and rumors being circulated in the media.

Bakir Ali, President of the Association of Returned Migrants, stated last week that the reports published regarding the drowning of these migrants are “completely unfounded."

Meanwhile, Peshraw Abdullah, the association's representative in Europe, told Channel8 that 18 migrants who departed Libya for Italy on August 16 remain officially unaccounted for.

FYI

The maritime route from Libya toward the southern European coast remains one of the most perilous irregular migration pathways globally, characterized by smuggling networks that dispatch migrants in unseaworthy vessels without basic safety equipment in international waters.

Despite deep anxiety among families following recent reports, no official medical or maritime authorities in North Africa have confirmed the discovery of any Kurdish migrants' bodies, and diplomatic efforts to secure verified information remain active.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), hundreds of migrants go missing annually due to boat capsizings, a reality that severely complicates efforts by embassies and families to track and identify those lost at sea.

Compounding these challenges, the President of the Association of Returned Migrants confirmed that more than 200 Kurdish migrants are currently in Libya planning to attempt the Mediterranean crossing to Europe.

Local migration directorate data underscores the localized scale of this crisis, revealing that well over 500 stranded migrants from Ranya alone have been repatriated over the years, highlighting the profound impact of irregular migration trends on the region.