The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) announced the interception and return of 11,891 illegal migrants to Libya in 2020, compared to 9,225 in 2019.
The IOM said in a statement that this number included 811 women and 711 children. It added that 316 migrants died, and 417 others were reported lost at sea, compared to 270 missing and 992 deaths in the previous year.
The chaos in Libya has turned it into the preferred departure point for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
The IOM has reiterated that Libya is not a safe port for immigrants to be returned. Thousands of those rescued at sea are held in overcrowded, dangerous, and unsanitary detention centres in Libya.