TRIPOLI, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Sunday that 184 illegal immigrants have been rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard off the country's western coast.
"184 migrants, among them 14 women and 11 children, were returned to Tripoli (in) Libya by the coast guard. IOM staff are onsite to provide emergency assistance," the IOM tweeted.
The number of illegal immigrants rescued off the Libyan coast have increased significantly over the past few days, with the Libyan Coast Guard rescuing hundreds of immigrants, including women and children.
The fall of the previous Muammar Gaddafi's government in 2011 has created a state of insecurity and chaos in Libya, which made it a preferred point of departure for migrants to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards European shores.
Shelters in Libya are overcrowded with thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, who were either rescued at sea or arrested by authorities, despite repeated international calls to close those centers.
The IOM has repeatedly stressed that Libya is not a safe point of disembarkation for migrants or refugees. Enditem
