TRIPOLI, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, Maria Ribeiro, on Tuesday regretted forceful disembarkation of illegal immigrants from a cargo ship that rescued them in the Libyan city of Misurata.

"The humanitarian community is saddened by what happened in Misurata, where 79 refugees and migrants onboard a commercial vessel were forced to get off the boat. We regret the reports that some of the people onboard were injured during the forceful disembarkation and transferred to the public hospital," the humanitarian official said in a statement.

The statement called for alternatives to detention to be implemented in Libya and for the transfer of individuals from disembarkation points to appropriate reception facilities for assistance.

The humanitarian coordinator also called for "continued humanitarian access to all the individuals disembarked and appropriate support and solutions."

Last week, the International Organization for Migration said that dozens of illegal immigrants rescued off Libya's western coast had refused to leave the rescue ship in the coastal city of Misurata.

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.

Shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands of illegal immigrants rescued at sea or arrested by the Libyan security services. Enditem

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