Storm Daniel has hit Libya hard, claiming the lives of at least 2,000 people and leaving 10,000 missing, wreaking havoc on a country already under tension.. Years of fighting between rival militias have weakened Libyan state structures to the point where there are two opposing governments at both ends of the country, operating with the support of local militias and foreign powers.. The chaos is a breeding ground for human trafficking networks, which have encouraged crossings into Europe through the Libyan coast, taking advantage of increased restrictions in Greece and Turkey.

The largest number of those crossing the Mediterranean to Italy from the west come from sub-Saharan Africa, but migrants taking the eastern Libyan route come from neighboring Egypt, as well as Pakistan, Bangladesh or Syria.. Several investigations indicate that the eastern government would be facilitating the entry of migrants into the country, allowing their stay through direct flights from Bangladesh and Syria.. To cope with the longer journey, smugglers are renting fishing boats to transport migrants. In June, a fishing boat from Libya capsized off the Greek coast, causing more than 700 deaths, mostly Pakistanis, Egyptians and Syrians.

According to UN data, Libya hosts more than 600,000 migrants of forty nationalities, including 40,000 registered asylum seekers.. Since 2015, it has repatriated more than 60,000 migrants, while an undetermined number of people remain in detention centers for illegal migrants, where human rights are seriously violated, according to dozens of humanitarian organizations.. A UN investigation revealed that there are indications that crimes against humanity have been committed against migrants, perpetrated by both state security forces and armed groups.. The harassment is not only carried out in the centers, but also in open waters and cases have been documented in which live ammunition was used against migrants and refugees.

In the last five years, the European Union and the Italian Government in particular have increased their cooperation with Libya to stop the departure of migrants from its coasts, with the training of the Libyan coast guard and investments in missions to support the authorities.. Italy has allocated at least 32.5 million euros since 2017 and the EU 59 million, according to data from the humanitarian organization Arci.