Libyan Coast Guard rescues over 300 illegal immigrants

Tripoli, May 26 (IANS) The Libyan Coast Guard has rescued more than 300 illegal immigrants and brought them back to the capital Tripoli, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said.

“Today at dawn, Libyan Coast Guard returned to Tripoli 315 refugees and migrants after being intercepted/rescued at sea aboard several boats,” the UNHCR tweeted on Monday.

Two persons lost their lives and their bodies were recovered. UNHCR partner IRC (International Rescue Committee) was on site to provide urgent medical care to all survivors,” Xinhua news agency quoted the Agency as further saying.

At least five boats carrying nearly 400 people attempted to flee Libya during the previous 48 hours, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said earlier Monday.

The IOM reiterated call for ending returns of rescued migrants to Libya and establishing a safe alternative disembarkation mechanism.

After the fall of the late leader Gaddafi’s government in 2011, Libya has become a preferred point of departure for thousands of illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean towards European shores.

–IANS

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