Libya Frees 416 Migrants From Underground Torture Sites

Libyan security forces rescued 416 migrants from horrific underground detention sites last week, shutting down illegal facilities where victims had been tortured and held for ransom.

In Kufra, authorities discovered a detention center buried three meters underground. They freed 221 people, including women, children, and a one-month-old baby who had been held in grossly inhumane conditions. At least ten survivors needed immediate hospitalization.

The rescue followed another operation in Ajdabiya, where officials closed an unlawful facility and released 195 migrants. Tragically, investigators recovered 21 bodies from a nearby burial site. Initial findings show victims had been tortured while captors demanded ransom payments from their families.

UN migration agency teams deployed immediately to help survivors. They're conducting medical screenings, distributing warm clothing, and ensuring urgent cases get hospital treatment. The rapid response means hundreds of people are now receiving care instead of suffering in darkness.

"These shocking cases highlight the severe risks faced by migrants who fall prey to criminal networks operating along migration routes," said Nicoletta Giordano, IOM's Chief of Mission in Libya. Her teams are working around the clock to support survivors.

The Ripple Effect

The rescues represent more than saving individual lives. Libyan authorities launched full investigations into the trafficking networks, signaling a commitment to dismantling these operations permanently. The UN welcomed these enforcement efforts while pushing for stronger protection systems and accountability for perpetrators.

This kind of coordinated action creates momentum. When governments shut down torture sites and prosecute traffickers, it disrupts entire criminal enterprises. Other vulnerable migrants traveling through the region may be spared similar fates.

Meanwhile, humanitarian teams continue responding to crises across the region despite severe funding constraints. In 2025, UNHCR provided clean water for half a million people in Sudan, cash assistance for Afghan and Syrian returnees, and over a million services for displaced Ukrainians. The work continues even as needs grow.

The baby freed from the underground facility in Kufra is now safe, warm, and receiving proper care alongside their mother.