The drought in Libya and environmental degradation are pushing migrants toward new routes. An IOM (International Organization for Migration) report underscores the impact of climate change on food security and the migratory choices in the country.
Climate change has worsened the vulnerability of migrants in Libya, affecting food security and conditions for the decision to move. This is what emerges from an IOM report dated June 2025.
The report analyses the ties between environmental degradation, food availability, and migration dynamics in the North African country.
According to the study, conducted on a sample of 1,590 migrants and focus groups and satellite analysis, the profile of migrants in Libya is dominated by young men, to a large extent coming from Niger, Sudan, and Egypt. A total of 74 percent work in the agricultural sector or related activities, often in extremely precarious conditions.
The research study also shows that 42 percent of adults and 20 percent of children are unable to eat three meals per day, while 28 percent have a very monotonous diet with little variation.
The most common survival strategies cause the reduction of portions and of the number of meals, or resorting to loans and family networks for support.
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One in four chose to migrate due to environmental conditions
Furthermore, the IOM report underscores how soil degradation and the lack of water are reducing agricultural yield. Half of those interviewed who work in the agricultural field declared they had to increase the use of fertilizers to maintain the same levels of production, incurring higher costs and additional work.
An additional 9 percent abandoned agricultural activities to change to other sectors.
The difficult climate conditions have a direct impact on the migration choices: 38 percent of those interviewed perceive climate change as a threat to the stability of their work, and 26 percent admit that environmental conditions have influenced their decision to migrate.
In terms of perspectives, 66 percent of migrants had planned to live in Libya permanently, 18 percent instead had planned to return to their country of origin, and a minority chose to continue to Europe.
Among the potential countries of destination, Italy places itself first, with 35 percent of preferences, followed by the United Kingdom, and France.
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Migrants are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and food crises
The IOM report describes Libya as a place where "Climate change and food crisis are interlinked with migration dynamics", making the conditions of those looking for means to support themselves in the country or even just passing through, more fragile.
Food insecurity and climate degradation, together with the precarious nature of work and the lack of social protection, push migrants to develop adaptation strategies that include both internal mobility and the perspective of reaching Europe.
According to the IOM, integrated strategies aimed at strengthening food security, the promotion of agro-environmental sustainability, and the support of rural communities at risk are needed.
International and national intervention policies, says the organization, must choose measures that take into account climate adaptation, support the agriculture sector, and the diversification of local economies.
In the absence of such responses, mobility -- internal and international -- will continue to be the forced and structural reaction to environmental and food crises, warns the report.
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