390 migrants rescued off Libyan coast: IOM

Dozens of migrants from different nationalities, mainly Somalia, Egypt and Morocco, including 14 minors and 4 women, wait to be assisted by a team of aid workers of the Spanish NGO Open Arms, after spending more than 20 hours at sea when fleeing Libya on board a precarious wooden boat, in international waters, in the Central Mediterranean sea, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Sunday that a total of 390 migrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast in the past 48 hours.

“In the past 48 hours, 390 migrants, among them women and children, have been intercepted and returned to Libya,” IOM Libya tweeted.

“While our teams are present at disembarkation points to provide emergency assistance, we reiterate that no one should be returned to Libya,” IOM Libya said.

The IOM said a few days ago that 9,448 migrants, including women and children, had been rescued and returned to Libya in 2020.

The organization also said that 196 migrants died and 275 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route this year.

Libya has become a preferred departure point for immigrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean towards European shores.