'Over 450 illegal migrants rescued off Libyan coast in a week'

The International Organization for Migration said that 12 illegal migrants died and 67 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route so far this year.

Tripoli: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday that more than 450 illegal migrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast in the past week.

"In the period of 19 to 25 January 2021, 452 migrants were rescued/intercepted at sea and returned to Libya," the IOM said.

Thousands of illegal immigrants choose to cross the Mediterranean from Libya towards Europe, as the North African country has been mired in insecurity and turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising killed the country's long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

In 2020, 323 migrants died and 417 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route, while 11,891 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, according to the IOM.

ANI

Read:|Migrant crisis set to explode, warns ILO