Over 6,800 Illegal Immigrants Rescued Off Libyan Coast
Illegal migration has been on the rise as many tries to flee their countries to other countries due to lack of security, good jobs and accommodating environment to strive through the daily grinds of life.
Though while this seems to be the best choice for the migrants, their lives are also put at stake, looking at the risk involved crossing seas, oceans and even security personnel placed to ensure such an act doesn’t go on.
In this regards the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said, on Tuesday, that 6,848 illegal immigrants have been rescued and returned to Libya so far in 2020.
IOM said the rescued immigrants include 474 women and 364 minors, adding that 115 illegal immigrants have died and 180 gone missing on the central Mediterranean route in 2020.
“A total of 9,225 illegal immigrants were rescued and returned to Libya in 2019, while 270 people died and 992 were missing,” the IOM said.
The fall of the Muammar Gaddafi’s government in 2011 had created a state of insecurity and chaos in Libya.
This made the country, a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards European shores.
Immigrant shelters in Libya are overcrowded with immigrants, despite repeated international calls to close them.
Ayooluwa Joshua