Libyan coastguards rescue 574 illegal immigrants in three operations

BY Libyan Express Aug 02, 2018 - 12:43

Illegal immigrants, who were rescued by the Libyan coastguard in the Mediterranean off the Libyan coast, arrive at a naval base in the capital Tripoli on May 10, 2017. [AFP PHOTO / MAHMUD TURKIA]

Libya’s coast guard picked up 574 migrants from inflatable boats in three operations on Monday off the North African country’s coast, naval forces spokesman Ayoub Qassem told Reuters.

He said the migrants included 388 men, 66 women and 19 children. Two boats were picked up near the town of Zawiya and one off Garabulli, Qassem said on Wednesday, adding that the migrants came from different sub-Saharan and Arab countries.

“All illegal migrants were brought to Tripoli’s Abu Sitah naval base and then handed over to Illegal Migration Department,” he said.

Libya’s western coast is the main departure point for thousands of migrants trying to reach Europe as they flee wars and poverty. The number of crossings has dropped sharply since July 2017 when an armed group expelled a network of human traffickers from a smuggling hub of Sabratha west of Tripoli.

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