On Monday, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said it rescued 442 migrants off the coast of Libya in the past week.
IOM said in a statement that from Feb. 4 to 10, 442 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya, including 68 women and 25 children.
So far this year, IOM has rescued 1,004 illegal migrants. Also, 16 died and 73 others went missing off the Libyan coast.
In 2023, the total number of rescued and returned stood at 17,190.
Many migrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya.
This is because of the insecurity and chaos in the country since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. (Xinhua)
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