By Enyichukwu Enemanna
At least 15 migrants were at the weekend found dead in the desert around the borders between Libya and Sudan, authorities in Libya say.
The migrants were said to be making their way to Europe in search of greener pastures through the Libyan nation plagued with crisis.
The Department for Combating Irregular Migration in the southeastern city of Kufra said the migrants were on their way from Sudan to Libya when their vehicle broke down due to lack of fuel.
According to the Department, nine other migrants survived while two were missing in the desert.
There were also women and children among the migrants, but the agency did not disclose the actual number. It also did not reveal causes of the migrants’ death, but said they did not have enough food and water.
It said the migrants were all Sudanese, a country in turmoil for years.
Preliminary investigation reveals that the migrants attempted to reach western Libya in efforts to board trafficking boats to Europe.
The agency posted images on Facebook showing bodies purportedly of the dead migrants who were later burned in the desert.
In June, authorities in Kufra said they found the bodies of 20 migrants who they said died of thirst in the desert after their vehicle broke down close to the border with Chad.
Libya has in recent years emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing Africa and the Middle East.
Libya, an oil-rich country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
