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UN: More than 700 Libya migrants returned home 

May 5, 2021 at 12:21 pm

Migrants arrive at the naval base in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on April 29, 2021 [MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP via Getty Images]

More than 700 Libyan migrants have been repatriated in recent days, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced yesterday.

Up to 77% of migrants face abuse, exploitation and trafficking - Refugee crisis, Libya - Cartoon [Hani Abbas/MiddleEastMonitor]

Up to 77% of migrants face abuse, exploitation and trafficking – Refugee crisis, Libya – Cartoon [Hani Abbas/MiddleEastMonitor]

“Among the migrants, there were very young children, and people who were in deep need of assistance,” UNHCR spokesperson, Carlotta Sami, said on Twitter.

She warned that the migrants would otherwise have ended up in “arbitrary detentions indefinitely,” adding that they would be at risk of “potential violations by human traffickers.”

“Libya is still not safe,” the UN official stressed.

Last week, the UN Security Council held an informal meeting focusing on the repatriation of more than 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya, a demand of the country’s transitional government as it heads toward December elections after a decade of fighting and upheaval.

The UN estimated in December that there were at least 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya, including Syrians, Russians, Sudanese, and Chadians.

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