The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said, on Monday, it intercepted 726 migrants, including women and children, and returned them to Libya during the past week.
“In the period of 21-27 May 2023, 726 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya,” IOM said in a statement.
So far this year, the organisation has rescued 5,784 illegal immigrants and returned them to Libya.
IOM added that 643 illegal immigrants died and 332 others went missing off Libyan coast on the central Mediterranean route.
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The Libyan Interior Ministry also said, on Monday, it rescued 139 illegal immigrants.
A criminal trafficking group allegedly kidnapped them on a farm, located some 350 km east of the capital Tripoli.
Many migrants, mostly Africans, choose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya.
This is because of the instability and chaos in the North African country since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011. (Xinhua)
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