More than 600 migrants hoping to reach Europe from Libya have been stopped since Friday, the navy said, as the International Organization for Migration warned Libya was "not a safe port". International agencies have repeatedly denounced the return to Libya of migrants intercepted at sea, due to the chaotic situation in the country and poor conditions in detention centres. "Today, 172 migrants, including women and children, were returned to Libya by the coast guard," it said. "Our teams provided emergency assistance to more than 600 migrants intercepted over the past 48 hours, it added. Libya is a major route for migrants trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, and traffickers have thrived in the lawlessness that followed the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Source: Libya Today May 02, 2021 18:22 UTC