Libya uncovers two mass graves with bodies of nearly 50 migrants, refugees

• One mass grave in a farm in the southeastern city of Kufra contained 19 bodies, the remains were taken for autopsy
• Second mass grave with at least 30 bodies was also found in the city after authorities raided a migrant detention centre
  

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Libya authorities have uncovered nearly 50 bodies from two mass graves in the country’s southeastern desert, in the latest tragedy involving people seeking to reach Europe through the North African country.

The security directorate said in a statement on Sunday that one mass grave found on Friday in a farm in the southeastern city of Kufra contained 19 bodies. The remains were taken for autopsy.

Mohamed al-Fadeil, head of the security chamber in Kufra, said a second mass grave with at least 30 bodies was also found in the city after authorities raided a migrant detention centre.

He added that according to survivor accounts, nearly 70 people were buried in that site and authorities were still searching the area.

Al-Abreen, a charity that helps migrants and refugees in eastern and southern Libya, said that some of the people found in the mass graves had been shot and killed before they were buried.

Mass graves containing the bodies of asylum seekers have previously been discovered in Libya, the main transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to make it to Europe.