TRIPOLI, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The United Nation Higher Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday that it has helped resettle 114 immigrants from Libya to Norway and Canada in the first week of December.
"During the first week of December, 3 flights with 114 Eritrean, Sudanese and Syrian vulnerable refugees left Libya towards Norway and Canada thanks to UNHCR's resettlement program," the UNHCR said in a statement.
The families heading for Norway have been hosted at a first stage at UNHCR's Emergency Transit Center in Romania. They will continue their journey to Norway later, the statement said.
"The support of the European Union's Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPP) is crucial to make resettlements happen from Libya and save refugees' lives," the UNHCR said.
So far this year, 232 immigrants have been resettled from Libya, and more than 900 individuals were submitted for resettlement.
Libya has become a preferred departure point for illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe because of insecurity and chaos in the North African country following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Migrant shelters in Libya are crowded with migrants rescued at sea or arrested by Libyan security services.
