The worsening security situation in Tripoli and surrounding areas has made conditions in Libya particularly dangerous for refugees and migrants.

His captors have demanded $15,000 (Sh1,970,418) for his release, a sum that Mahad and his relatives cannot afford.

Ocean Viking also has aboard 113 people recovered on Wednesday night and a further 88 rescued on Thursday from "an overloaded inflatable craft".

Only two out of the 42 migrants who were on board the boat survived after leaving from Jebiniana, a small town near Sfax.