Head of EU Mission in Libya: Training Libyan coastguards will help stem human trafficking

The head of the European Union’s Mediterranean mission said on Wednesday that EU’s training for Libya’s coastguard to stop people smugglers and rescue boat migrants could help save many lives and avoid incidents in which Libyan officials have behaved too aggressively.

The EU’s Operation Sophia has already started around 80 Libyan coastguards and naval forces hoping that after 14 weeks of the training program, those personnel would be ready to help in the combating of illegal immigration and human trafficking.

Political vacuum and loss of the state of law as well as the growing grip of militias have allowed human smugglers to turn Libyan shores into a crossing point into Europe via Italy for many Africans and other nationalities to use for better life.

More than 3,740 have died trying to make the crossing this year alone.