Over 50,000 Migrants Left Libya: IOM

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday said that over 50,000 migrants have voluntarily returned to their home countries from Libya since 2015.

"Over 50,000 migrants received IOM Libya's Voluntary Humanitarian Return Assistance since 2015. The Voluntary Humanitarian Return flights continued to assist hundreds of people every month despite security challenges," IOM said.

"Migrants voluntarily returned to 44 countries of origins across Africa and Asia. Prior to their departure, all migrants received medical screening to assess their fitness to travel," the organization added.

Returnees are eligible to receive IOM's reintegration assistance once they arrive home, including vocational training and economic support.

The IOM runs the Voluntary Humanitarian Return program, which arranges the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their countries of origin.

There are more than 650,000 illegal immigrants currently staying in Libya, including about 6,000 being held in detention centers, the IOM estimated.

These illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe from Libya since the 2011 uprising that toppled the late leader Muammar Gaddafi.