Libyan Coast Guard rescues 155 migrants off Tripoli shores

BY Libyan Express Aug 08, 2017 - 09:52

Migrants on a wooden boat are rescued by German NGO Jugend Rettet ship “Juventa” crew in the Mediterranean sea off Libya coast, June 18, 2017. [REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini]

Libyan coastguards rescued Monday 155 people, including 18 women and 10 children, near the capital city of Tripoli.

The migrants came from several countries, including Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Sudan as well as sub-Saharan Africa and Syria, according to Italian media reports.

Libya has been in disarray since the revolution of 2011. Lawlessness has been a major factor in fueling the migrant trafficking trade.

Around 114,000 migrants have landed in southern Europe since the start of the year, and about 82 per cent ended up in Italy, according to data from the IOM last month. Nearly all of them set sail from Libya.

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