A patrol of the Anti-Smuggling and Infiltration Unit of Zuwara has rescued 24 migrants off the coast of the city.

The migrants ended up stranded in the middle of the sea while attempting to cross to Europe in a dilapidated boat, a statement by Libya's Interior Ministry explained on Sunday.

The Maritime Operations Office of the Coast Guard said that the boat was spotted on Sunday afternoon, drifting 22 miles east of Abu Kammash area. It then informed the Anti-Smuggling and Infiltration Unit of Zuwara who picked up the migrants from their "almost sunk" dinghy and brought them safe to shore.

The 24 migrants who were all of Sudanese nationality were assisted with humanitarian and medical aid upon their disembarkation, before being transferred to Zuwara Immigration Shelter.

Since the beginning of this year, around 7,000 migrants were intercepted and rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said last Wednesday.