TRIPOLI -- Eleven Sudanese refugees died of dehydration in Libya's southern desert after their vehicle broke down near the southeastern city of Kufra, the Libyan Medical Emergency Department said on Thursday.

"Displaced Sudanese passengers were stranded in the Sahara Desert after their vehicle broke down," the department said in a statement posted on its official Facebook page.

Women and children were among the dead, it said. Fifteen others traveling with the group were rescued.

The incident highlights the growing risks faced by those fleeing Sudan's conflict, which began in April 2023 and has since displaced more than 12 million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Around 4 million have crossed into neighbouring countries seeking safety.

The UNHCR also noted the number of Sudanese refugees in Libya had reached 313,000 by May.

Libya, a key transit point for migrants and refugees aiming to reach Europe, continues to grapple with political instability and insecurity, making such routes increasingly dangerous.