The UN Refugee Agency ( UNHCR ) on Thursday said 1,084 refugees were repatriated from Libya since beginning of the agency’s operation in November 2017 to date.
The UNHCR Envoy for the Central Mediterranean, Vincent Cochetel, made this known in a statement in Washington.
“On Tuesday, a flight departed from Tripoli bound for, Niamey, Niger, carrying 128 refugees.
“Also on Wednesday, a second plane took 150 refugees from Tripoli to Rome, Italy, bringing to 1,084 the total number of refugees evacuated since the beginning of the operation, three months ago,’’ Cochetel said.
Cochetel said the repatriation would give the refugees a “new chance at life” after they suffered tremendously following their detention in Libya.
“By the end of 2018, we hope to evacuate thousands more,” Cochetel added.
Libya is a primary route for African migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean for southern Europe.