The National Human Rights Committee in Libya expressed its regret and sorrow over the death of 17 illegal immigrants after their boat sank off the shores of the city of Sabratha.

In a statement, the committee held the European Union countries responsible for the atrocities and crimes that migrants are exposed to in Libya at the hands of smuggling and human trafficking networks, crime gangs and organized crime.

The committee called for the intensification of international and regional efforts at the level of the Mediterranean basin to enhance and support maritime search and rescue operations, and to confront gangs of migrant smuggling and human trafficking in the Mediterranean basin countries.

The Committee renewed its call on the Libyan authorities to assume their legal and humanitarian responsibilities towards intensifying efforts to combat human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, and to work to eliminate human trafficking networks, smuggling of migrants and crime gangs.

The committee held the Government of National Unity and the Ministry of Interior fully legally responsible for these horrific incidents of drowning irregular migrants. This is due to the remarkable activity of migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks in the municipalities and cities of the West Coast, according to the statement.

The committee called on the Libyan authorities to work quickly to develop a comprehensive national strategy with all its security, legal and human rights aspects to eradicate the crime of migrant smuggling, human trafficking, crime networks and organized crime.

Also, the Red Crescent Society – Sabratha branch – announced yesterday, Sunday, the recovery of (17) bodies of illegal immigrants off the shores of the city of Sabratha, in the presence of the Public Prosecution and the city’s police station.

Source: Libyan News Agency