Xinhua News Agency
TRIPOLI – Nearly 900 illegal immigrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and returned to Libya in the past week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced Monday, Jan. 31.
From Jan. 23 to 29, 872 migrants were rescued or intercepted at sea and returned to Libya, the IOM said in a statement, adding a total of 1,476 illegal immigrants were rescued and returned to Libya this year.
According to the IOM, 27 illegal immigrants have died and 55 have gone missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route since the beginning of the year.
In 2021, a total of 32,425 illegal immigrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 662 died and 891 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, IOM revealed.
Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The North African country has turned into a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores. (Xinhua) – bny
