The group in a post on Facebook condemned smuggling and human trafficking and said its patrols would continue efforts to block smuggling routes. It posted satellite images of the desert and pictures of what appeared to be migrants sitting in rows in front of armed and masked militants. Many are escaping war or poverty and many employ smugglers to help them negotiate treacherous deserts and sea routes. Migrant apprehensions are rarely reported in Libya, though the country's state news service LANA reported more than 2,000 arrests in July. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk in July said migrants in the country had been subjected to torture, forced labor and starvation while being detained.

Source: Libya Today November 25, 2024 23:08 UTC