TRIPOLI, May 4 (NNN-Xinhua) — More than 800 illegal migrants have been rescued off the coast of Libya over the past week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
From April 25 to May 1, “818 migrants were rescued/intercepted at sea and returned to Libya,” the organization said in a statement, adding that 6,992 illegal migrants have been rescued and returned to Libya so far this year, including 545 women and 335 minors.
Additionally, 139 illegal migrants died and 349 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route so far in 2021, the IOM said.
In 2020, 11,891 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 381 illegal migrants died and 597 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route, the IOM said.
Due to years of instability and unrest, Libya has become a preferred point of departure for migrants wanting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.
Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) urged the Libyan authorities to approve a humanitarian evacuation of 124 refugees from Libya to Rwanda.
“UNHCR in Libya regrets that the humanitarian evacuation to Rwanda of 124 refugees, initially scheduled for 25 April, had to be postponed several times. It is pending approval of the Libyan authorities,” UNHCR said in a statement.
“There are most vulnerable refugees, including former detainees, women, children, and survivors of human trafficking,” it said.
“UNHCR urges the Libyan authorities to formally approve this humanitarian evacuation, in light of the immense suffering the refugees have gone through and the distress they continue to endure. Meanwhile, UNHCR informed all asylum seekers of this unfortunate delay, and is providing them with counselling and humanitarian assistance,” it said.
The UNHCR expressed gratitude to Rwanda for being able to provide solutions for evacuations out of Libya.
“Since 2017, over 6,500 refugees departed Libya through humanitarian evacuation or resettlement to third countries,” the UNHCR said in the statement. — NNN-XINHUA