TRIPOLI, Aug 5 (NNN-IRIN) – The Libyan Navy, yesterday said, a coast guard patrol rescued 110 illegal migrants off the country’s western coast.
The rescued migrants, who are of different nationalities, include a woman who gave birth on the boat, the Libyan Navy said.
The migrants were taken to the Tripoli Naval Base and then handed over to the anti-illegal immigration department.
“As part of its humanitarian role, the anti-illegal immigration department will look after the migrants and complete the procedures for their deportation safely back to their countries,” the Libyan Navy added.
Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos, since the fall of its leader, Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants, who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.
So far in 2021, more than 19,000 illegal migrants, including women and children, have been rescued at sea and returned to Libya, while 360 died and 570 went missing, off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, according to the International Organisation for Migration.– NNN-IRIN
