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TRIPOLI, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday that more than 100 illegal immigrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast in the past week.
“In the period from October 20 to 26, 104 migrants were rescued / intercepted at sea and returned to Libya,” the IOM said.
The organization also said that 9,955 illegal migrants, including women and children, have been rescued and returned to Libya so far this year, compared to 9,225 in 2019.
The IOM also said 220 illegal immigrants have died and another 287 have disappeared along the central Mediterranean route so far this year, compared to 270 dead and 992 missing in 2019.
The state of insecurity and chaos in Libya following the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 has encouraged thousands of migrants to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.
The IOM has repeatedly stressed that Libya is not a safe landing point.
The agency has been running the assisted voluntary return program that organizes the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their countries of origin. Final product
