Prime News, International (Tripoli), Feb 1:- A total of 872 illegal immigrants were rescued off the Libyan coast and returned to the country in the past week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced. It added that a total of 1,476 illegal immigrants were rescued and returned to Libya this year, reports Xinhua news agency. According to the IOM, 27 illegal immigrants have died and 55 gone missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route since the beginning of the year. In 2021, a total of 32,425 illegal immigrants were rescued and returned to the country, while 662 died and 891 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, the IOM revealed. The North African country has turned into a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

Source: Libya Today February 01, 2022 06:53 UTC