AFRICA: Navy rescues 82 illegal immigrants off Libyan coast

THE Libyan Navy has rescued 82 illegal immigrants off the coast of Khoms city, some 120 km east of the capital Tripoli.

In a statement, the Libyan navy said: “A rubber boat was successfully rescued with 82 migrants on board off the coast of Khoms city after a distress call was received by the Libyan Search and Rescue team,” it said.

The rescued migrants, including eight women and 39 children, were taken to Tripoli’s Naval base, provided with humanitarian and medical assistance, and handed over to the anti-illegal immigration department, the statement noted.

However, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has repeatedly said Libya is not a safe port for disembarkation of rescued migrants.

Since the ouster and killing of its former leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011, Libya has been mired in chaos making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who intend to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe.

Illegal immigrants in their thousands, who were either rescued at sea or arrested by the authorities, remain detained in overcrowded detention centres in Libya.