Libya’s General National Maritime Transport Company (GNMTC) announced the rescue of 28 undocumented migrants aboard a rubber boat off the coast of Tripoli.
According to a statement by the GNMTC, ship Anwar Libya discovered the distressed migrants and extended assistance, fulfilling its ethical and humanitarian duty.
All of the migrants, including women and children, are Syrian. According to the statement, the ship’s crew provided necessary medical aid to the migrants before heading towards the guidance station in Tripoli for their safe delivery.
The company highlighted that Anwar Libya brought all rescued migrants to the guidance station in Tripoli. It underscored its commitment to maritime safety and humanitarian obligations.
Last month, Libyan authorities released 32 Syrian migrants who were held in detention for 17 days after being rescued from a capsized boat.
A local source in Libya told NorthPress news agency that the families of the detainees, who were in the custody of the Libyan coast guard, were finally able to contact their loved ones after nearly three weeks of captivity.
The Libyan authorities released the detainees on Saturday. The migrants’ boat had capsized for unknown reasons earlier this month while attempting to cross from Libya to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.
The boat, carrying over 80 migrants, including 32 Syrians, departed from the Libyan shores towards Europe. However, contact was lost shortly after their departure on Wednesday, October 4th, 2023.
The Libyan coast guard rescued them from the sinking vessel and transported them to a detention facility in the city of Benghazi.
Libya is a major gateway for migrants and asylum seekers attempting perilous sea voyages in often rickety boats in the hope of a better life in Europe.
The central Mediterranean route has been dubbed the world’s deadliest sea crossing for migrants.