The United Kingdom has committed to providing £1 million, equivalent to $1.3 million, as part of an agreement to facilitate the return of Libyan nationals to their homeland.
The UK Home Office stated that this funding aims to address the issue of illegal migration in Libya, amid record numbers of migrants heading to Europe from North Africa, according to the British news agency "PA Media."
Michael Tomlinson, Minister for Illegal Migration, announced the funding package following a visit to the country earlier this week.
The Home Office explained that this financial support would bolster the protection of migrants in Libya and aid in preventing journeys to Europe.
This will be achieved by addressing the root causes of illegal migration and facilitating the voluntary return of migrants to their home countries.
The ministry added that more than 150,000 migrants reached Italy by sea last year after crossing the Mediterranean, a record number marking the highest ever, with many departing from Libya.
Britain had previously announced new immigration rules significantly limiting migrants' ability to seek asylum in the UK and reducing their numbers by hundreds of thousands.
The interior minister stated that "strong measures" would be taken to curb legally permitted migration, which reached a record level of about 750,000 people in 2022.
The new measures are expected to reduce the number of individuals eligible to move to Britain in the coming years by at least 300,000.
The minister further clarified that starting in the spring of 2024, migrants applying for asylum would need to earn £38,700 to qualify for a skilled worker visa, up from the current threshold of £26,200.
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