The Libyan Navy spokesperson, Ayoub Qassem said on Wednesday that the Coast Guard has rescued more than 11,000 illegal immigrants and has recovered 89 bodies since the beginning of this year.
In a statement to ArraedLG, Qassem denied accusations made against the Libyan Coast Guard by European governments and media of mistreatment of migrants, pointing out that non-governmental organizations were seeking to distort the Libyan coast guard instead of providing aid to them.
The German government said on Wednesday that the Libyan Coast Guard has rescued about 10 thousand refugees stranded in sea since the beginning of this year.