More than 385 Pakistani immigrants, among them children, were freed from the clutches of human traffickers in Libya. The distressing ordeal came to light when security authorities conducted raids at a warehouse in eastern Libya, where these unfortunate individuals were being held for ransom.
The rescue mission carried out in the Al-Khair area, located about eight kilometers south of Tobruk, the eastern Libyan city, was successful in liberating the captives from their dire circumstances. The efforts of Al-Abreen, a dedicated group assisting migrants in Libya, played a crucial role in ensuring the safe release of Pakistani nationals.
The migrants, some of whom were as young as ten years old, were later transported to a nearby police headquarters for medical care and further support. Heartbreakingly, many of them were found suffering from illnesses, such as scabies, highlighting the terrible conditions they endured during their captivity.
Following their rescue, the majority of the freed individuals were relocated to a facility in Qunfudhah, near Benghazi, while 45 others remained in the custody of the Libyan army. However, as of now, there has been no official communication from either the Libyan or Pakistani governments regarding the future status of these rescued migrants.
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Videos and images shared on Al-Abreen’s Facebook page revealed the dire state in which the migrants were found. Sitting on the ground, visibly exhausted and malnourished, the captions accompanying these visuals conveyed their desperate situation, indicating they had gone without food for three days and lacked basic necessities.
The plight of these migrants serves as a poignant reminder of the significant risks faced by vulnerable individuals attempting to migrate through illegal means and falling prey to human traffickers. The successful rescue operation underlines the urgent need for continued efforts to combat human trafficking and safeguard the rights and well-being of migrants worldwide.