TRIPOLI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Saturday that more than 200 illegal immigrants have been rescued off Libya's western coast in the past 24 hours.
"More than 200 migrants were returned to Libyan shores in the past 24 hours. IOM staff who were onsite to provide assistance report that ten other migrants are missing at sea," IOM tweeted.
Libya has been experiencing insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, which makes the North African country a preferred point for thousands of illegal immigrants bound for Europe.
According to the IOM, more than 6,500 illegal immigrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast so far this year.
Immigrant shelters in Libya are overcrowded with migrants despite repeated international calls to close them. Enditem
