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Aid Group: African Migrants Trapped in Libyan Town


African migrant workers whom rebels accused of being mercenaries seen detained in a military base in Tripoli, Libya, August 28, 2011.
African migrant workers whom rebels accused of being mercenaries seen detained in a military base in Tripoli, Libya, August 28, 2011.

The International Organization for Migration says 1,200 African migrants are trapped in a southern Libya town with dwindling supplies of food and water.

The international aid group says the migrants have gathered at its transit center in the town of Sebha to escape fighting between pro- and anti-Gadhafi forces on the outskirts of town.

The town is currently held by Gadhafi supporters.

The IOM called on the two sides Tuesday to make sure no harm comes to the migrants, who it says are mainly from Chad, but also include people from Niger and Nigeria.

The agency says it is trying to determine how to evacuate the migrants. The IOM evacuated 1,400 migrants from Sebha's airport in July, but now says the fighting near the town may make that option unfeasible.

Black African migrants in Libya have reported being targeted by the anti-Gadhafi rebels.

The IOM says the migrants in Sebha are "very scared and threatened."

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