The Libyan Red Crescent said Wednesday it had found at least 17 bodies of immigrants who were en route to Europe on Al-Zawiya shores, adding that the bodies were handed over to the relevant authorities for burial.

The bodies, found Tuesday, are likely of immigrants who drowned while trying to make it to European shores, the Red Crescent said.

It also reported the IOM as saying that over 1100 immigrants had died or feared dead in shipwrecks off Libya since the start of 2021.

UN organizations and NGOs confirmed over the last days that they had lost contact with tens of immigrants after their dinghies and wooden boats capsized or just stopped in the Mediterranean as they tried to reach Europe.

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