Earlier this week, India raised concern over the resurgence of terrorist activity in Libya at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)…reports Asian Lite News
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday that 446 migrants were rescued off the coast of Libya and sent back to the country from July 17 to 23.
So far in 2022, a total of 11,057 migrants have been rescued and returned to Libya, including 698 women and 422 minors, IOM said in a statement.
According to IOM, 180 migrants died and 648 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route this year.
In 2021, a total of 32,425 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 662 died and 891 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, according to IOM.
Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for irregular migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.
Earlier this week, India raised concern over the resurgence of terrorist activity in Libya at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
In a briefing at UNSC on Libya, Charge d’affaires at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN Ambassador R Ravindra said, “We remain concerned at the resurgence of terrorist activity in Libya, and we reiterate that terrorist groups and affiliated entities must not be allowed to operate unchallenged in Libya.”
However, he welcomed the progress that was made when the Presidents of the House of Representatives and High Council of State met in Geneva late last month (June 28-29, 2022).
“It is imperative that all outstanding political issues are resolved peacefully by the parties concerned, keeping in mind the larger interests of the Libyan people,” said the Indian envoy.
Highlighting the importance of holding Presidential and Parliamentary polls at the earliest, he said, “We hope all parties work together to maintain peace & stability in Libya. An immediate priority for Libya is to hold Presidential and Parliamentary polls at the earliest in a free, fair, inclusive and credible manner.”
“We look forward to an early consensus between the Libyan parties on the constitutional basis for holding the elections,” he added.
Libya is currently divided between a government that was appointed by the House of Representatives in March, and the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity that refuses to hand over office except to an elected government.
Libya failed to hold general elections in December 2021 as previously scheduled, due to disagreements over election laws among the Libyan parties. (with inputs from agencies)
