TRIPOLI, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday that 111 illegal Malian immigrants were voluntarily deported home from Libya last week.
The migrants, some of whom were ill, were transported on a humanitarian charter flight that left from Sabha in southwestern Libya, according to the IOM.
More than 800 illegal immigrants have been voluntarily deported from Libya to their home countries under the Voluntary Humanitarian Return program so far this year.
"IOM's Voluntary Humanitarian Return program continues to be a lifeline out of Libya for stranded migrants who wish to return to their countries of origin," IOM said.
Libya has become a preferred point of departure for thousands of immigrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores, in order to escape insecurity and chaos that have plagued Libya since the fall of its former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
In 2021, a total of 32,425 illegal immigrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 662 died and 891 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, according to the IOM. ■