Migrants and refugees in Libya

Four people have died after two boats capsized off the coast of Libya, near al-Khums, Aljazeera reported on 16 November 2025. According to the Libyan Cred Crescent, a total of 91 migrants and asylum seekers were rescued from the two boats, most of them from Bangladesh and Sudan.

At least 42 people are missing and presumed to be dead after their rubber vessel sank off the northwest coast of Libya, the IOM reported in a statement on 12 November 2025. The boat was carrying 49 migrants and refugees, of which seven were rescued by Libyan authorities.

The Libyan government has ordered Doctors Without Borders (MSF) to leave the country by 9 November, the organisation reported on 29 October 2025. This development comes after MSF was ordered to suspend their activities in Libya in March 2025, in a context of increasing restrictions on foreign NGOs, with some being accused of ‘actions that threaten state security’. Steve Purbrick, head of programmes for MSF in Libya stated “We deeply regret this decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we are concerned about the consequences for the health of the people we assisted”.

Libya