Libyan security authorities have recovered 11 more bodies from a mass grave in the country’s southeast, bringing the total number of bodies found to 39.
Authorities confirmed the latest discovery on Monday, stating that the remains were found in 55 graves near Kufra, a vast southeastern district of Libya.
This follows an earlier announcement by the Attorney General on Sunday that 28 bodies had been recovered in the north of Kufra.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealed that the bodies discovered in two mass graves bore gunshot wounds, raising concerns about the circumstances of their deaths.
Kufra’s main town is located approximately 1,700 kilometres (1,000 miles) from the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Mohamed Fadil, the head of services fighting illegal migration in the region, stated that authorities expect to uncover more graves as the recovery operation continues.
He added that each body had been numbered, with DNA samples collected in the presence of prosecutors and the criminal investigation department.
Libya has become a major transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, attempting to reach Europe through dangerous desert and sea routes.
The situation has worsened since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, leading to lawlessness and human trafficking networks.
Earlier in February, the security directorate in Alwahat, eastern Libya, recovered 19 bodies from a mass grave in Jikharra, while the Libyan Red Crescent found 10 more off the coast of Zawiya after a migrant boat sank.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
