Egypt busts 49 people for illegal migration attempt

Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-14 00:52:33|Editor: yan
Video PlayerClose

CAIRO, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian authorities foiled on Sunday an illegal migration attempt of 49 people before they sneak into neighboring Libya through borders desert routes, official MENA news agency reported.

The migrants included 28 Egyptians, 11 Sudanese, five Syrians, three Eritreans, an Iraqi and an Ethiopian, according to the report.

Egypt is favored by illegal migrants who seek to cross its territories to Libya on their way to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea.

In September 2016, a migrant boat bound for Italy drowned near the coast of Egypt's northern Beheira province with some 600 people onboard, leaving over 200 dead.

The European Union's border agency Frontex warned that growing numbers of migrants bound for Europe were turning to Egypt as a departure point for the sea voyage.

Illegal migration via Egypt rose over the past few years in attempts to reach Libya and finally Europe and to flee difficult economic conditions back home in Middle Eastern, Arab and African states.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105521365229921