The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that over 80 migrants were intercepted on their way to Europe today by the Libyan Coast Guard and returned to Libyan soil to be held in detention centres. “We reiterate that no one should be returned to Libya.”This was the second interception off Libya in as many days. Late Thursday, the IOM said the Libyan navy returned to Libya another 86 migrants, including seven women and 19 children, who were intercepted earlier in the Mediterranean. Earlier this week, a boat carrying migrants bound for Europe capsized and at least 43 drowned, the first shipwreck of 2021 involving migrants seeking refuge in Europe. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reemphasised that it is against human rights laws to return migrants to Libya.

Source: Libya Today January 22, 2021 17:03 UTC