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LIBYA-IMMIGRANTS
Nearly 680,000 illegal immigrants arrive in Libya in May
TRIPOLI, Aug. 4, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – The International Organization for
Migration (IOM) said that nearly 680,000 illegal immigrants arrived in Libya
in May.
“In May 2018, IOM Libya identified 679,897 migrants in Libya from 42
nationalities, 8% of them are minors,” the IOM said Friday.
“The top 5 nationalities were Nigerian, Egyptian, Chadian, Sudanese and
Ghanaian. Together these nationalities account for up to 65% of Libya’s
migrant population,” it added.
Libya has become a preferred departure point for illegal immigrants hoping
to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe due to insecurity and chaos in the
North African country following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader
Muammar Gaddafi.
Migrant shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands of migrants who have
been rescued at sea or arrested by the Libyan security services.
BSS/XINHUA/GMR/0915 hrs