Thread: Libya halts more than 400 migrants bound for Europe

Libya halts more than 400 migrants bound for Europe

News24 Sunday 5th February, 2017



Tripoli - Libya's coast guard said on Saturday it intercepted more than 400 African migrants attempting to reach Europe, a day after EU leaders agreed on moves to curb mass migration from the country.

General Ayoub Qassem, the coast guard spokesperson, said 431 people on inflatable crafts were rounded up between Thursday and Saturday at sea off the town of Sabratha, 70km west of the capital Tripoli.

"The migrants are of different African nationalities and there are a great deal of women and children among them," he said.

Italy's coastguard said Thursday that more than 1 750 migrants had been rescued in the Mediterranean within 24 hours.

Around 230 people have died en route to Europe since the start of 2017, according to the United Nations.

European Union leaders meeting Friday in Malta approved a new strategy to "break the business model" of traffickers who helped 181 000 mainly African migrants enter the EU via Libya and Italy last year.

The plan includes funding and training Libya's coast guard to make it better able to intercept migrant boats and helping neighbouring countries to close routes into Libya, according to a draft statement seen by AFP.

Lawlessness in Libya since a 2011 uprising that ousted longtime strongman Moamer Kadhafi has allowed smuggling networks to develop a lucrative trafficking trade.

Source: News24

I think we're setting a new stage for this crazy migration. Countries taking charge to reduce or end it is a good thing seems to me. On the news yesterday were interviews with local Iraqis including many Christians who want to stop their people from leaving Iraq. This is so good. We should stop accepting people from these countries because there are two types, the brains and talent who need to stay in their own countries and help build them up and the poor and impoverished which we have no jobs or money to help because we already have too many of our own poor and impoverished.

We need a 10 to 20 Year Moratorium on All Immigration. NOW.

No more green cards, no more long term resident work visas. Stop it all.