Italian govt gives Libya 12 boats to ‘fight human trafficking’ at sea

The Italian government will give Libya 12 boats to help it “fight human trafficking” and curb the flow of migrants into Europe, AFP reported Tuesday. The announcement comes as several EU nations are pressuring Libya to take charge of migrant rescues in the Mediterranean. Italy’s measure “aims to strengthen the operational capacity of the Libyan coastguard” to ensure the “proper management” of the migrant situation in the Mediterranean, according to the government in Rome. The move’s “priorities the need to fight human trafficking, to protect human life at sea and to curb migratory pressure,” the statement said.