LIBYA: Libya's coastguard detains over 100 migrants, attempting to cross to Europe in an ill-equipped boat

Record ID: 348752

  • Title: LIBYA: Libya's coastguard detains over 100 migrants, attempting to cross to Europe in an ill-equipped boat
  • Date: 5th June 2014
  • Summary: GARBOULI, WEST OF TRIPOLI, LIBYA ( JUNE 5, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BOAT CARRYING MIGRANTS CAPTURED BY LIBYAN COAST GUARDS AT SEA (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED LIBYAN COAST GUARD, SAYING: "Illegal migrants were rescued by coast guard forces in the Garbouli area. A boat carrying 114 immigrants was safely taken to the beach in order to hand them over to the authoriti
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADBIVDP5SZLLFN66LK4JC8YUAI
  • Story Text: Libya's coastguard picked up over 100 immigrants in its waters to the west of Tripoli on Thursday (June 5), Libyan coast guards officials said.
    The 114 men, mostly from Senegal, were detained as they were trying to cross to Europe in a small boat.

    "Illegal migrants were rescued by coast guard forces in the Garbouli area. A boat carrying 114 immigrants was safely taken to the beach in order to hand them over to the authorities," a coast guard official told Reuters.
    Many migrants from sub-Saharan Africa head to North Africa to escape from desperate conditions in their own countries, hoping to find work there or risk the perilous journey to Europe.
    The Mediterranean can be treacherous in the autumn and winter months, making spring and summer the best time for small boats with ill-equipped crews to cross the sea.
    Italy alone rescued 4,000 migrants from boats trying to reach European shores in early April. At that point 15,000 migrants had already arrived there by sea since the start of the year.
    Western powers say instability in post-Gaddafi Libya may have encouraged human traffickers to exploit the country's lawlessness.
    The boats leaving Libya usually attempt to land on the Italian island of Lampedusa or Malta.
    Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the number of immigrants passing through Libya has risen sharply and the country's coastguard and army are ill-equipped to stem the tide.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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