Libya’s coast guard detains 143 African migrants en route to Europe

Oct 09, 2015 Libya’s coast guard recently detained 143 migrants en route to Europe. According to officials, the migrants were taken to Tripoli’s naval base, where they were attended to by staff from the United Nations refugee agency.

Speaking to reporters, Mustafa Muftah, from Tripoli’s department for combating illegal migration said:

“We received a call informing us of a boat at sea that was carrying 143 (migrants) including men, women and children and we brought them here to the Tripoli naval base,”

One of the migrant from Cameroon, travelling with her husband and two sons, said her family made the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean due to the activities of Boko Haram.

“I came from Cameroon in the capital Yaounde. Why I left my country? Because of Boko Haram. Boko Haram is too disturbing us. They kill our parents. They kill our brothers and sisters. That is the problem why I have to run from my country,”

Libya has become the main launching point of migrants fleeing war and poverty across Africa and the Middle East. The International Organization of Migration has reported nearly 100 migrant’s deaths in the Mediterranean off the Libyan coast over the last 7 days.

According to official statistics, 557,899 migrants and refugees have arrived in Europe across the sea this year and 2,987 people have died attempting the crossing.