Recently, the Italian coast guard rescued 144 migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.
The group was allegedly fleeing Libya when their boat capsized, killing more than 400
other migrants on board.
Last year, nearly 200 thousand refugees made this same dangerous trek to Italy, and more
than three thousand of them died on the way.
So what’s going on?
Why are so many migrants risking their lives to leave Libya?
Well, since the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been in a near constant
state of civil war between two major political factions, and various armed militias.
To learn more about that, watch our video on what Libya looks like after Gaddafi.
Also, ISIS has taken advantage of Libya’s turmoil, and gained a foothold in the region.
In February 2015, they beheaded 21 Egyptian men in Libya, and held a military parade with
a fleet of pickup trucks.
As a result, reports from the region show that oil production and subsequently, Libya’s
GDP, have experienced steep declines.
The Atlantic Council warned in 2014 that Libya was facing an economic collapse.
Faced with a dysfunctional, broke, and violence-prone state, many migrants choose to risk the dangerous
journey across the Mediterranean in hopes of a better life in Europe.
Refugees from Syria, Somalia and Eritrea contribute to the total number of migrants passing through
Libya.
The country is considered to be the best place to attempt a sea crossing, with an alleged
high success rate.
Libyan coastlines are extensive and often unpatrolled.
And since both the current governments have their hands full trying to conquer and stabilize
the nation, their interest in deterring the vast amount of human trafficking on Libyan
shores is minimal.
For more on the chaos in Libya and the threat ISIS poses, watch our videos now.
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