A law enforcement raid near Tobruk, a coastal city in northeastern Libya, has liberated at least 385 Pakistani migrants detained in human traffickers’ storage facilities. The operation, conducted early on Monday, successfully freed the individuals from smugglers’ warehouses in the Al Khueir region, south of Tobruk.
Al-Abreen, a Tobruk-based migrant rights organization, revealed that liberated individuals are at least 11 children, some under 10 years old. A spokesperson for Al-Abreen informed that several rescued migrants are grappling with diseases such as scabies, and food aid has been provided to them.
Al-Abreen reported that the authorities transported most of those freed to a facility in Qunfudhah, near Benghazi, whereas 45 remain under military detention. Although there is no official comment from the Libyan or Pakistani governments yet, it is anticipated that the migrants will face deportation.
Visuals shared on Al-Abreen’s Facebook page show a considerable crowd, presumably in the hundreds, sitting on the ground while apparent volunteers and aid workers distribute food and beverages. The accompanying captions suggest that the migrants had not received food for three days and lacked essentials.
