The International Organization for Migration announced that more than 13,000 migrants have been intercepted off the Libyan coast since the beginning of this year and returned to Libyan territory.
The organization said in a statement that 13,323 migrants, including 445 children, were intercepted between January 1 and August 10 of this year and returned to Libya.
The organization indicated that the number of deaths among migrants reached 421 cases, while 603 others were recorded missing during the same period.
It is noteworthy that Libya is one of the main countries from which thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa depart towards Europe, despite the great risks that threaten their lives.
Last month, on the sidelines of an international conference to curb migration flows across the Mediterranean held in Tripoli, the interior minister revealed that about 70 to 80 percent of foreigners in Libya are “irregular.”
He confirmed the presence of approximately 2.5 million foreigners in Libya, most of whom entered through “illegal” means, while stressing Libya’s refusal to “settle” these immigrants.
According to the International Organization for Migration report, the number of migrants who died or went missing during their migration journeys through or from the Middle East and North Africa region in 2023 rose to 4,984, compared to 3,820 in 2022.
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2024-08-14 16:57:20