- Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/LIBYA Libyan coast guards rescue 150 migrants en route to Europe
- Date: 6th June 2015
- Summary: AT SEA (JUNE 6, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF COAST GUARDS ESCORTING MIGRANT BOAT BACK TO PORT MIGRANTS ON BOAT TRIPOLI, LIBYA (JUNE 6, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS ARRIVING AT PORT MIGRANTS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN COAST GUARD OFFICIAL, ALI DAOLAB, SAYING: "Based on the orders and information we received, we headed out to sea, about 17 miles off shore, where we int
- Embargoed: 21st June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA9JEF8AWM1NPRIOQY45XQIFBB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Libyan coast guards rescued about 150 Eritrean migrants, including women and children, off the northern African coast on Saturday (June 6), who were attempting to reach Europe.
After intercepting the vessel at approximately 17 miles (27 km) off the shores of Libya, coast guards headed at sea and escorted the migrants back to the port of Tripoli.
"Based on the orders and information we received, we headed out to sea, about 17 miles off shore, where we intercepted an illegal migrant boat carrying some 150 migrants, including women, children, and young men, and we saved them from drowning," Libyan coast guard official Ali Daolab said.
Libya is where thousands of migrants fleeing conflicts and poverty in Africa and the Middle East begin their treacherous journeys at sea in overcrowded boats in the hope of reaching European territories.
"I was on my way to Italy. I want to go to Italy. It's our circumstances (in Eritrea). I would pay money. I would pay my whole life so that I can live a comfortable life, with a clear conscience. I am now 24-years old. For 24 years I have never had a comfortable life," said Mustafa, a migrant who was on the rescued boat.
Libya has rounded up thousands of Europe-bound African migrants in detention centres in recent months. But the number of migrants undertaking precarious journeys at sea has increased dramatically, facilitated by favourable weather conditions.
European members of the United Nations Security Council are drafting a resolution to authorise interventions to seize vessels on the high seas and in Libyan territorial waters.
But Khalifa Ghwell, prime minister of the unrecognised Tripoli based government, told Reuters this week that Libya would never agree to such an action.
On Thursday, more than 400 migrants, mainly from Sub-Saharan Africa, were detained in Tripoli before they were able to board boats headed for Europe.
Libya has descended into chaos nearly four years after the fall of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, and two competing governments backed by militia brigades are scrambling for control of the oil-producing country, creating havens for Islamist militants and traffickers. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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