IOM: 111 migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast in one week

Libyan Cloud News Agency – Tripoli

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that 1,111 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean Sea and returned to Libya in the last week of July.

The IOM added that 19,393 migrants were returned to Libya in 2021, compared to a smaller number of 11,891 who were intercepted at sea in 2020.

At least 360 migrants died this year while trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, while 570 are still missing.

In 2020, about 381 migrants died in the Mediterranean and 597 others were reported missing, according to the International Organization for Migration.

The Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy remains the deadliest for migrants trying to reach Europe. Last week, at least 57 migrants were died and 18 migrants rescued after a boat capsized off the Libyan coast.