According to IOM data, the majority of those intercepted were men (10,653), with 1,136 women and 404 children. Most of the migrants originated from Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia, fleeing poverty, conflict, and environmental pressures in search of safety and better living conditions.

While these individuals were rescued and disembarked in Libya, the journey proved fatal for many. IOM confirms that 317 migrants died along the route, and another 286 remain missing, presumed dead. The Central Mediterranean remains the deadliest migratory route in the world.

Compared to the same period in 2024, there has been a decline in the number of interceptions last year over 21,700 migrants were returned to Libya. However, the figures of the dead and missing continue to underscore the dangers of the crossing and the urgency of the humanitarian crisis.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned the practice of returning migrants to Libya, citing systemic abuse, arbitrary detention, and inhumane conditions in detention centers. Despite international criticism, cooperation between European and Libyan authorities on migration enforcement continues.

IOM has renewed its call for durable solutions, including legal pathways to asylum, voluntary returns, increased resettlement opportunities, and addressing the root causes of forced migration such as conflict, poverty, and climate change.