The Azzura is currently sailing towards the eastern port city of Benghazi where is expected to arrive later today.
Upon arrival, the evacuees will be temporarily accommodated at a transit centre before being taken by IOM to the Egyptian border and eventually assisted to return to their home countries.
The migrants from Egypt, the Philippines, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Jordan, Iraq and Ukraine boarded the IOM ship on Sunday afternoon to escape widespread shortages of fuel, food, water and medical supplies.
This follows the earlier evacuation of 263 stranded migrants from Tripoli, bringing the total number of evacuees to more than 1,100.
Although news of increased rebel control of Tripoli might have some migrants reconsider leaving the Libyan capital, IOM staff on the ground believe many more migrants, especially from sub Saharan Africa have not been able to reach their embassies or the port area because of fears for their security.
Among those are some 200 frightened Nigerians and other West Africans who are stranded in Tripoli’s southern district of Al-Yarmouk who say they are in desperate need of evacuation.
Many say they are afraid of being stopped at opposition checkpoints because of their perceived association to sub-Saharan mercenaries who are said to have fought alongside government forces.
In an effort to increase its capacity to evacuate more stranded migrants from Tripoli, IOM has chartered another ship, the Red Star One, which is due to leave Benghazi later today.
IOM is also looking at resuming its evacuation by road to neighbouring Tunisia, provided security along the route is assured.
For further information, please contact Jean Philippe Chauzy, Tel: + 41 22 717 9361/+41 79 285 4366, Email: jpchauzy@iom.int or Jumbe Omari Jumbe Tel: + 41 22 717 9405/+ 41 79 812 7734 Email: jjumbe@iom.int
