Libyan authorities successfully rescued 123 migrants stranded on a deteriorating boat off the coast of Zuwara, the General Directorate of Coastal Security announced on Sunday.
The rescue operation was carried out by the patrol vessel “Wadi Gan P301,” which intercepted the migrants within Libyan territorial waters.
The rescued group, consisting of men, women, and children from various African nations, was brought ashore at the Al-Shaab port in Tripoli.
The migrants were handed over to the Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency for legal processing.
In a related incident, the Marine Rescue Unit in Khoms reported a capsized boat near the coastal area of Al-Qazzahia. The unit managed to save 17 migrants from different nationalities.
Background Information: Libya has long been a critical departure point for migrants, predominantly from sub-Saharan Africa, seeking to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.
The country’s proximity to the Italian island of Lampedusa makes it a favored, albeit perilous, route for human traffickers.
The ongoing political instability in Libya has exacerbated the migrant crisis, with numerous people risking their lives in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.
International organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), have frequently raised concerns about the safety and human rights of migrants in Libya, calling for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis.
Rescue operations like the one off the coast of Zuwara are critical in preventing loss of life, but they also highlight the broader challenges facing Libya and the international community in managing irregular migration flows across the Mediterranean.
