301 illegal immigrants rescued off Libya coast

The Libyan navy rescued 301 illegal immigrants yesterday off the country’s northern coast, the spokesperson said.

In a statement the official said a patrol had rescued 301 illegal immigrants, including women and children who were on board two large rubber inflatable boats that suffered an engine breakdown north of the town of Castelverde.

He added that the immigrants were from 12 African nations. Humanitarian and medical aid has been provided to them and they were then transferred to a shelter.

The Libyan Coast Guard had rescued 191 illegal migrants two days ago after their boat sank off the country’s coast.

UNHCR estimates that in 2017 over 3,000 people died or were declared missing while trying to cross the Mediterranean. Since 2014, over 15,000 people have died or were declared missing, with numbers reaching a peak in 2016 after several Balkan countries closed their borders and cut off the so-called “Balkan Route” used by many migrants and refugees.

As a result the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said the Mediterranean is “by far the world’s deadliest border”.

Read: Libya’s coast guard recovers five bodies from migrant boat