Libya stops 400 migrants attempting to cross to Europe
(VOVWORLD) - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported Monday that Libya’s coastguard stopped some 400 migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean in five boats in the past two days.
That brings the number of people who have attempted the crossing this month to more than 1000, despite the closure of Libya's international borders to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The United Nations refugee agency said two people who were on the boats stopped Sunday night had drowned. The IOM estimates that since 2014 more than 20,000 people have lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean.