TRIPOLI, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- About 81 illegal immigrants rescued off Libya's western coast have refused to leave the rescue ship in the coastal city of Misurata, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Thursday.
"Around 81 migrants are still on board a cargo ship in Misurata for the sixth consecutive day, refusing to leave," IOM said in a statement.
"IOM and humanitarian actors have been providing food, water and winter blankets to sustain the people in the ship," the statement added.
The organization called for "a peaceful resolution of the situation that ensures the safety of the migrants."
No official statement has been issued by the Libyan navy about the incident.
Libya has become a preferred departure point for illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe because of insecurity and chaos in the North African country following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Immigrant shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands of illegal immigrants rescued at sea or arrested by the Libyan security services.
