(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
Since Monday, over 10,000 refugees departing from Libya have attempted to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean in hopes of seeking a better life in Europe.
The Italian coastguard said over 30 rescue missions were carried out on Tuesday, saving the lives of 4,650 people.
28 refugees died on the journey to Italy, according to the Italian coastguard. No further information was given by the coastguards regarding the condition of the bodies nor did they say where they came from
On Wednesday, 33 refugee boats were rescued, 27 of them were rubber dinghies.
It is likely that calm sea waters resulted in a high numbers of refugees attempting the journey across the sea to Italy.
The rescue mission involved 13 ships from Italian and Irish coastguards, private merchant boats and humanitarian groups.
The high number of refugees that arrived in Italy so far this week has raised the total number that has arrived this year to around 142,000 people and has raised the death toll to 3,100. Many of the refugees had originated from Nigeria, Eritrea, Guinea, Gambia, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Somalia.