301 African migrants have been rescued by Libya’s coastguard after the boats they were traveling in had engine failure.
They were picked up near Libya’s western coast as they head to Europe on Thursday.
Spokesman for the Libyan coastguard Ayoub Qassem told Reuters that “The coastguard rescued 301 migrants early this morning, including three women and 46 children from 12 different sub-Saharan countries.”
He says “he illegal migrants were on board two big rubber boats. The engines of the two boats stopped working in the middle of sea.”
Libya remains the main departure point for migrants fleeing wars and poverty to reach European countries.
Sanctions
Six people have been sanctioned by the United Nations for human trafficking offences and smuggling of migrants in Libya.
The sanctions were imposed after Russia backed an earlier request for action against the individuals.
The U.N sanction against the six individuals will affect their assets as well as they facing travel bans.
Arrest warrant
This year Libyan officials issued arrest warrants for over 200 Libyans and foreigners who were involved in a smuggling syndicate.
The syndicate was abusing African migrants trying to get to Europe.
Officials claimed that the trafficking syndicate had security service officials, leaders of migrant detention camps, and embassy officials from African countries based in Libya.
Libya since Moammar Gaddafi’s overthrow has become a hub for slave trade. Africans hoping to cross the Mediterranean into Europe are subjected to inhumane treatments and sold in slave markets.
Source: Africafeeds.com
