http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36355960
Migrant crisis: Libya intercepts boats carrying 850 people
5/23/16
Libyan coastguards say they intercepted boats carrying 850 migrants trying to reach Europe on Sunday.
A spokesman said the migrants from various African countries - including 79 women, 11 of them pregnant - were found in seven inflatable boats near Sabratha, west of the capital Tripoli.
More than 30,000 migrants have already crossed from Libya to Italy this year.
It comes as the UN's first World Humanitarian Summit is due to open in Istanbul.
Heads of state, aid agencies and others will discuss the financial response to crises and how better to distribute aid to those who most need it.
The UN says there is a $15bn annual gap in humanitarian funding and money raised is often held up at source.
However, the charity Medecins sans Frontieres has refused to attend, arguing the summit won't pressurise states that violate humanitarian law and that no significant new commitments will be made.
Better weather conditions
Libya has become a major hub for migrants as people traffickers exploit lawlessness in the country.
The onset of better weather conditions has raised fears more people will attempt the dangerous 300 km (185 miles) crossing to the island of Lampedusa in Italy.
In March, French Defence Minister Yves Le Drian said there were about 800,000 migrants waiting to head to Europe from Libya.
Most are believed to be from Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea.
Libya has warned that it does not have the resources to control the flow of people heading to Europe and has accused the EU of failing to deliver on promises of help.
Earlier this month, a British parliamentary report said the EU's naval mission to combat people trafficking off the Libyan coast was "failing" and had only succeeded in forcing smugglers to change tactics.
----------
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/libyan-coastguards-intercept-7-boats-carrying-850-migrants-near-tripoli-1561455
Libyan coastguards intercept 7 boats carrying 850 migrants near Tripoli
By Ananya Roy
May 23, 2016 08:33 BST
Coastguards in Libya intercepted boats carrying 850 migrants on Sunday (22 May) as they were trying to sail into Europe. Those on the vessels include 79 women of whom 11 are pregnant.
A spokesman for the coastguards said the migrants, who hail from different African countries, were travelling in seven inflatable boats. They were intercepted near Sabratha, west of Libyan capital Tripoli.
So far in 2016, the growing migrant crisis has forced over 30,000 asylum-seekers to cross Libya to reach Italy. Libya, owing to its lawlessness, has emerged as a favourite among human traffickers who are taking advantage of the plight of the displaced people and sneaking them into Europe in exchange for money.
People trying to flee conflict-hit countries have been taking all sorts of risks to reach safer territories, but many have lost their lives doing so. It is now feared that with the onset of better weather conditions in Libya, many migrants could opt for the dangerous 300 km route through the island of Lampedusa in Italy.
Libya has already warned the European Union that it does not have enough resources to control the flow of migrants trying to enter Europe. The country has even accused the EU of failing to deliver on its promises of providing help to deal with the issue. Earlier in May, a British parliamentary report revealed that the EU's naval mission to control human smugglers off the Libyan coast could not solve its purpose, the BBC noted, adding that the report claimed that the mission only managed to force the smugglers to change routes.
Received on Mon May 23 2016 - 06:20:50 EDT