Geneva: The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced the interception of 973 illegal immigrants off the Libyan coast.
The organization said, in a statement, that during the period from June 16 to 22, 973 illegal immigrants were intercepted and returned to Libya.
The statement indicated that among the migrants were 44 women and 27 children, noting that since the beginning of this year, a total of 8,754 migrants had been intercepted, while 332 migrants were killed and 528 others went missing off the Libyan coast.
During the past year, 17,190 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya, according to IOM.
The northern coasts of the African continent have become, over the past years, the most important starting point for illegal immigrants wishing to reach Europe.
Source: Qatar News Agency
