TRIPOLI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday said that 31 illegal immigrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast.
"IOM staff are at the disembarkation point in Tripoli, to provide emergency assistance to 31 migrants returned to shore by the coast guard," IOM tweeted later Monday.
"Over 7,000 migrants have so far been intercepted and returned to Libya this year. Most end up in arbitrary detention," it added.
Libya has been mired in a state of insecurity and chaos since 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for thousands of illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe.
Immigrant shelters in Libya have been overcrowded with migrants despite repeated international calls to close them. Enditem
