UN: 15 Killed and 177 Survived Attempting to Migrate from Libya via the Mediterranean

The United Nations refugee agency reported that it retrieved the bodies of 15 migrants while 177 others survived from two coast guard boats returning to Libya after attempting to cross the Mediterranean. The attempts to cross from North Africa have increased this year, with reports indicating that the Libyan coast guard intercepted over 23,000 migrants and refugees by September. Migrants and refugees in Libya face detention and abuse, with authorities arresting more than five thousand during a recent campaign last week. Guards killed at least six migrants at a detention center on Friday, as severe overcrowding led to chaos, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Dozens managed to escape the area before being re-arrested by authorities. The Government of National Unity stated that it is "dealing with a complex issue regarding irregular migration due to its humanitarian tragedy, as well as its social, political, and legal repercussions locally and internationally."