Benghazi (Al-Ittihad)
The Libyan Coast Guard returned 7,100 illegal immigrants to their countries during the first six months of this year, according to data issued by the International Organization for Migration.
According to the organization, in the same period, 282 deaths and 449 missing persons were recorded in the Mediterranean, pointing to the worsening humanitarian crisis, as an increasing number of migrants attempt to make a dangerous journey across the Mediterranean in search of a better life in Europe. In neighboring Tunisia, the National Guard announced yesterday the recovery of two bodies and the interception of more than 1,806 irregular migrants as they attempted to cross the maritime border.
The number of irregular migrants arrested represents the result of combing operations on June 15 and 16. According to the National Guard, most of the immigrants come from sub-Saharan African countries, including only 18 Tunisians.
In their campaign, the security authorities arrested 24 middlemen and human smugglers. The Tunisian coasts, especially the coasts of Sfax, represent a major platform for thousands of migrants arriving from sub-Saharan African countries to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards the coasts of the nearby Italian islands.
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