Libyan Coast Guard Rescues 88 Migrants at Sea
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Synopsis
The Libyan Coast Guard successfully rescued 88 migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The operation took place off the Libyan coast, with necessary medical care provided before the migrants were transferred to the Illegal Migration Control Department. The ongoing migrant crisis continues to affect Libya amidst political instability.
Key Takeaways
- Libyan Coast Guard rescued 88 migrants.
- Rescue occurred off the Libyan coast.
- Migrants received medical care before being handed over.
- IOM reports ongoing migrant challenges.
- Political instability drives migration from Africa.
Tripoli, Jan 21 (NationPress) The Libyan Coast Guard announced on Tuesday that it successfully rescued 88 migrants who were attempting to navigate the Mediterranean in search of a route to Europe.
The Coast Guard disclosed via its official Facebook page that its vessel Wadi Kaam 300P effectively rescued 88 illegal migrants from various nationalities off the Libyan coast after being alerted about their malfunctioning boat.
The rescued individuals were brought to Tripoli port, as stated in the report.
Legal actions were initiated against them, and they were subsequently transferred to the Illegal Migration Control Department after receiving necessary medical assistance, with representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) present.
According to the IOM, a total of 493 migrants were rescued off Libya's coast between January 5 and January 11.
This group included 47 women and 17 children, with the report also noting the recovery of three deceased migrants.
In 2024, 21,762 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 674 lost their lives and 1,015 went missing on the Central Mediterranean route, which includes departures from Libya and other nations.
The ongoing instability and turmoil in Libya since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 have led many migrants, primarily from Africa, to risk crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach European territories, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Last month, Libya executed a land deportation of a group of migrants to Niger, marking the first occurrence of such deportations in several years.
The department confirmed on its Facebook page that the deportation occurred with the involvement of Niger's charge d'affaires to Libya.
The migrants were deported across the land border with Niger due to violating Libyan laws after all required procedures were followed. The statement indicated that deportations of migrants from Libya to their countries of origin will persist.
The IOM estimates indicate that 787,326 migrants are currently in Libya, with 41 percent reporting having faced significant challenges such as environmental, political, or economic hardships prior to their migration to Libya.
