GENEVA: The International Committee of the Red Cross said it has helped 618 migrants to leave the besieged Libya port city of Misrata on Monday.
The evacuees included Sudanese, Chadians, Egyptians and Moroccans, all of whom had been stranded for weeks without proper shelter or sanitation.
"They had to cope with poor hygiene and were exposed to danger owing to the fighting in the city," said Javier Cepero Garcia, an ICRC delegate who is leading the evacuation mission.
The ship chartered by ICRC is bringing the migrants to Egypt, via the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk.
The ICRC added that it is sending another ship which is due to arrive at Misrata on Wednesday with medical supplies, hygiene kits, food items and 8,000 liters of drinking water.
Earlier Monday, the International Organization for Migration said it has evacuated close to 1,000 people from Misrata, but warned that at least 4,000 were awaiting rescue.
