The figure of 706,062 migrants reflects an increase compared to the previous identification of November and December 2022. | Photo: www.nationalgeographic

The International Organization for Migration noted that Libya hosts more than 700,000 migrants and refugees of around 44 different nationalities.

According to the migration agency, the figure of 706,062 migrants reflects an increase compared to the previous identification of November and December 2022, when 694,398 migrants were counted.

The majority of migrants in Libya come from Niger (24 percent) followed by Egypt (23 percent), Sudan (19), Chad (12) and Nigeria (4) and 53 percent of the total is located in the west of the North African country.

Libya shares more than 4,300 kilometres of land borders with six countries, where IOM identifies the main routes used by migrants and refugees to reach the North African country.

Just released the new DTM Migrant Report Package (Jan-Feb 2023): according to data, IOM identified at least 706,062 migrants from over 44 nationalities present in #Libya.

Read full report here: https://t.co/zPyTDdjRpz pic.twitter.com/4NsOsrrP5X

— IOM Libya (@IOM_Libya) May 24, 2023

Much of the migrant population uses the Central Mediterranean route to reach Europe; a total of 14,948 reached Italian shores during the months in which IOM made its last report.

Libya is considered by NGOs as an "unsafe country" for migrants and refugees, so they call for no returns of those who are intercepted at sea, such as the at least 24,000 people returned against their will in 2022 and more than 5,000 this year, according to data from the organizations.

(With information from Telesur)