The western Libyan coast is a major departure point for mainly African migrants fleeing conflict and poverty and trying to reach Italy across the Mediterranean Sea with the help of human traffickers. The Libyan coast guard stopped two boats on Tuesday and one on Wednesday, carrying 113 migrants in all, and returned them to two western towns away from the Tripoli frontline, where they were put into detention centres, UN migration agency IOM said. A coast guard spokesman said the migrants were from Arab and sub-Saharan African countries as well as Bangladesh. Human rights groups have accused armed groups and members of the coast guard of being involved in human trafficking. Rights groups have also accused the European Union of complicity in the abuse as Italy and France have provided boats for the coast guard to step up patrols.

Source: bd News24 May 01, 2019 21:33 UTC