538 illegal migrants rescued off Libyan coast

International Organization for Migration (IOM) , announced that in the last week, 538 illegal migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and returned to Libya.

“From September 26 to October 2, 538 migrants were rescued/intercepted at sea and returned to Libya,” according to the International Organization for Migration.

So far this year, 25,823 illegal migrants have been rescued, including women and children, while 450 have perished and 660 have gone missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 11,891 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya in 2020, while 381 others perished and 597 went missing along the Central Mediterranean route.

Since the demise of Gaddafi, Libya has been plagued by insecurity and anarchy.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of its leader, Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

This is making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

Rescued migrants end up in overcrowded reception centres across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close those centres.