Libyan authorities are reporting an estimated 100 people missing, and three babies were found dead off the nation's coast following a boat carrying around 120 migrants capsized on Friday, June 29.
Libya's coast guard rescued 16 survivors and brought them ashore in Al-Hmidiya east of the capital Tripoli.
Over the years Libya has become the first port African migrants–searching to escape issues in their nations–arrive at to enter Europe. Many of the problems driving "illegal" immigration stem from western influence and exploitation of African resources. According to The Telegraph, more than 1,000 people trying to cross the Mediterranean have already died this year.
Libya's coastguard has intercepted hundreds of African migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean https://t.co/AIK8KtnjUq
pic.twitter.com/dNxDz1gBX5— TRT World (@trtworld) June 25, 2018
Those who make the treacherous journey to Europe are often meet racism and hate. Europeans have not been shy about their dislike toward the migrants coming to their shores. In fact, Italy has spearheaded this backlash.
"The only thing European states appear to have agreed on is to block people at the doorstep of Europe regardless of how vulnerable they are, or what horrors they are escaping," Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)' emergencies chief Karline Kleijer said in a statement.
Libyan coastguards picked up 948 African #migrants on inflatable boats in several operations and also recovered 10 bodies. The operations brings the number of migrants trying to head to Italy but brought back to Libya to almost 2,000. https://t.co/B4XRgfQ3Vr
pic.twitter.com/EjEVTTHp7e— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) June 25, 2018
Europe isn't alone. Since the beginning, Trump's administration has increased the number of African migrants deported from the United States. Figures show some migrants from countries have been sent back at a rate twice as high as the previous year.
Number of African migrants removed from the US in 2016 and 2017 #CitiCBS
pic.twitter.com/cr9Yg9NpyD— CitiNewsroom (@Citi973) June 25, 2018
The Times UK reports the European Union has proposed a new plan to curb Mediterranean crossings by creating processing centers in African nations. It is likely these centers will be set up in North African nations. The 28 leaders from the EU claim the centers will be used to prevent the deaths of migrants boarding smuggler ships.
“It seems as if today we will manage a shift in migration policy,” far-right Austrian politician Sebastian Kurz said. “That’s important because we have asked for a systemic change for years. For years we have demanded reductions in the number of people coming to Europe illegally. I think that is possible today.”
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