Libyan Coast Guard Commander, Masoud Abdul Samad, has denied a report by the UNHCR, regarding the sinking of a boat carrying 50 migrants off the Libyan shores.

Abdul Samad explained that the boat has sent several destress calls and the coast guard responded immediately.

He added that a patrol vessel was sent to the site to fetch the boat off the coast of Misurata, confirming the rescue of all migrants on board the boat.

The Libyan Navy announced yesterday that it had rescued 71 migrants. The migrants were permitted to leave, due to the lack of an immigration shelter, nearby the drop-off point, according to Libya's Coast Guard.

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