TRIPOLI — More than 600 migrants hoping to reach
Europe from Libya have been stopped since Friday, the navy said, as the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned Libya was “not a safe
port”.
اضافة اعلان
Three groups of illegal migrants were intercepted at sea on
Friday and Saturday by
Libya’s coastguard and units in charge of securing
ports, the navy said in a statement, released overnight Saturday to Sunday.
It said the 638 people were mostly citizens from sub-Saharan
African nations trying to reach Europe, and they were brought to a naval base
in the capital Tripoli ahead of handing them over to an anti-immigration squad
run by the interior ministry.
The navy said a first group of 334 migrants, who were on
board four inflatable boats, were “rescued” on Friday.
Two other groups, of 132 and 172 people, were assisted
separately on Friday and Saturday.
The navy did not say if the boats were sinking or had
technical problems.
International agencies have repeatedly denounced the return
to Libya of migrants intercepted at sea, due to the chaotic situation in the
country and poor conditions in detention centers.
The IOM repeated its concerns late Saturday.
“Today, 172 migrants, including women and children, were
returned to Libya by the coast guard,” it said.
“Our teams provided emergency assistance to more than 600
migrants intercepted over the past 48 hours, it added.
“We reiterate that Libya is not a safe port.”
Libya is a major route for migrants trying to reach Europe
via the Mediterranean, and traffickers have thrived in the lawlessness that
followed the 2011 overthrow of dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
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