The Committee for Justice (CFJ) expresses its deep sorrow and grave concern over the sinking of a boat off the coast of Zuwara, Libya, resulting in the death or disappearance of at least 53 migrants and refugees of various African nationalities, including two infants, after a rubber dinghy carrying 55 people capsized at sea. Only two survivors were rescued, according to official reports.
Information indicates that the vessel departed from the Zawiya area west of Tripoli on the evening of 5 February 2026, before experiencing water leakage and capsizing only a few hours later. This tragedy reflects the ongoing extreme dangers faced by migrants and refugees along the Central Mediterranean route.
CFJ stressed that this disaster constitutes a flagrant violation of the right to life and human dignity, and highlights persistent failures to provide adequate protection to people fleeing conflict, poverty, and persecution. The incident also underscores the grave risks posed by human‑smuggling and trafficking networks, which exploit highly vulnerable individuals amid the absence of safe and legal migration pathways.
While extending its deepest condolences to the families of the victims, CFJ calls for the following:
- An urgent, transparent, and independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident, ensuring accountability for all those involved in human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
- Strengthening and coordinating search‑and‑rescue operations at sea to ensure rapid and effective response to distress calls.
- Providing humanitarian, legal, and psychological support to survivors and families of victims, ensuring full respect for their rights without discrimination.
- Reviewing migration‑management policies to ensure compliance with international human rights standards, and ending practices that violate migrants’ dignity or expose them to arbitrary detention or ill‑treatment.
- Working to expand safe and regular migration channels, and addressing the root causes of forced migration through regional and international cooperation based on respect for human rights.
CFJ affirms that it will continue monitoring the situation of migrants and refugees in Libya and along migration routes, advocating for strengthened accountability and the protection of fundamental rights for all individuals without exception.