On Monday, 6,500 migrants were rescued from the sea twelve miles off Libya in one of the biggest operations of its kind to date. Migrants from Eritrea and Somalia were cheering and some were swimming to rescue vessels, while others carried babies aboard. The previous day, another 1,100 migrants had been rescued in the same area. Libya’s instability has made it a hub for people-trafficking. About 106,000 people have arrived in Italy so far this year, while 2,726 have died in the attempt. The International Organisation for Migration says there are a further 275,000 migrants in Libya waiting to travel. Several vessels run by humanitarian organisations help to patrol the route, but the risks were highlighted earlier this month when Médecins Sans Frontières said one of their boats was fired on by armed men.