The organization reported that around 14,000 irregular migrants have been intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea and returned to Libya since last January, according to the Libyan ‘Al-Wasat Portal’ on Tuesday. The organization pointed out that among these were approximately 12,000 men, 1,295 women, and 453 children. The organization explained that 370 deaths and 300 missing migrants have been recorded on the Central Mediterranean route since the beginning of the year, all of whom departed from the Libyan coast. It called on the international community to open more legal channels for migration and allocate greater funding for organizations working in this field.
Earlier, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called for enhanced search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean and broader European coordination to support the efforts of the Italian Coast Guard. The UNHCR warned that current policies do not contribute to resolving the crisis, emphasizing that deaths at sea are the responsibility of governments, not individuals. It also expressed concern over the reduction in funding allocated to assist 122 million displaced or refugee individuals around the world.
