More than 10,000 migrants have been intercepted or rescued and returned to Libya, according to International Organization for Migration (IOM) Libya Chief of Mission Federico Soda. Soda also called for action to address concerns that migrants were likely to be returned to detention centres in the North African country where they will face exploitation and abuse, which they had sought to flee from. Human rights groups say abuses, including violence and forced labour, are widespread in these detention centres. Last week, IOM spokeswoman Safa Msehli reiterated that the IOM had no involvement whatsoever in the management of detention centres for migrants. The Mediterranean Sea is the most preferred route by migrants from Africa, mostly from Libya, who attempt to get into Europe through Italy and Malta.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 10, 2020 14:15 UTC