More than 160 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Libya Chief of Mission Federico Soda said on Monday. According to Soda, the events occurred between January 3 and 4 but he did not give any details on the location(s). Soda called on stakeholders to establish predictable disembarkation in a safe port and deploy state-led search and rescue assets to aid such operations to save migrants. Human rights groups say abuses, including violence and forced labour, are widespread in these detention centres. The Mediterranean Sea is the most preferred route by migrants from Africa, mostly from Libya, who attempt to get into Europe through Italy and Malta.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 05, 2021 11:26 UTC