TRIPOLI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Higher Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Thursday relocated 350 illegal immigrants in a reception center in south of the Libyan capital Tripoli.
"Following yesterday's temporary relocation of 325 refugees and migrants from Qasr Ben Ghasheer to Azzawia (southern Tripoli), UNHCR and IOM relocated today the remaining group of more than 350 persons to Azzawya where they will be safe, away from the area of clashes, where a raging conflict is ongoing," UNHCR said in a statement.
Over the past two weeks, more than 1,000 refugees have been relocated from detention centers in the conflict areas in Tripoli, the statement said.
"UNHCR continues to call for the release of all refugees in detention centers located in the middle of the crossfire, and calls on the international community to provide solutions for all trapped and detained refugees in Libya, including evacuations and humanitarian corridors, to allow refugees in the Gathering and Departure Facility to find safety abroad and also to open new spaces at the facility, which has limited capacity," the UN agency demanded.
Tripoli is witnessing armed conflict between the UN-backed government and the east-based army over control of the city.
The east-based army, led by Khalifa Haftar, has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over Tripoli from the government.
The fighting so far killed more than 270 people, injured nearly 1300 others, and displaced more than 35,000 others, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
