Some 650 people have died in the Mediterranean this year, according to IOM spokesman Flavio Di Giacomo.
4.2 million is the number of people who have fled Ukraine to other countries since the Russian invasion.
“The evacuees included victims of human trafficking and irregular migrants on voluntary return who had hitherto considered Libya as a transit point.
Among the refugees, since Russia’s invasion three and a half weeks ago, are at least 186,000 people from other countries, the agency added.
“If only I had known this or I had someone to advise me against travelling illegally, I wouldn’t have suffered this way and be scarred for life.”
The returnees were 96 male adults, 41 female adults, nine male and five female children, six female infants, five male infants, and three sick adult male.
“From January to date, we have rescued 350 Nigerians from Libya, who were victims of trafficking, and we have arrested six persons.”
In 2020, 11,891 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, the agency estimated, adding that 381 migrants died and 597 went missing.
381 migrants died, and 597 went missing on the Central Mediterranean route in 2020.
