On Sunday, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said a total of 390 illegal migrants have been rescued off Libya’s coast, in the past 48 hours.
“In the past 48 hours, 390 migrants, among them women and children, have been intercepted and returned to Libya”, IOM Libya tweeted. “While our teams are present at disembarkation points to provide emergency assistance, we reiterate that no one should be returned to Libya”, it added.
Last week, the IOM stated that 9,448 illegal migrants, including women and children, had been rescued and returned to Libya in 2020. The organisation also reported that 196 migrants died, and 275 others went missing in the central Mediterranean route this year.
Libya has become the preferred departure point for illegal migrants, attempting to cross to European shores.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called for urgent action to address the “dire situation” of migrants coming from Libya to Europe. It also denounced the violence against migrants, who are seeking safety in Europe. The international organisation demanded that states “tackle the shocking conditions migrants face in Libya, at sea, and upon their reception in Europe.”