CNN has revealed that the number of refugees in Libya exceeded 100,000 as of last October, according to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
According to the report, Sudanese nationals constitute the majority of refugees in the country, numbering around 84,400, followed by Eritreans (8,900), Ethiopians (2,300), South Sudanese (1,900), and about 5,300 Syrians.
CNN noted that the actual figures may be higher than the officially recorded numbers, explaining that the UN operates only in areas under the control of the Government of National Unity in western Libya, making it difficult to account for refugee populations elsewhere.
UN reports attributed the sharp rise in the number of Sudanese refugees to the ongoing war in Sudan, which has caused extensive killings and displacement. Meanwhile, thousands of Eritreans flee their country to escape forced military conscription and human rights abuses, with many falling victim to human trafficking gangs.
The report added that Libya serves as a key transit hub for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean toward Europe. The northeastern Sahara region is described as the final departure point in Africa for those fleeing war and persecution in search of a better life.