3,300 migrants rescued off Libyan coast

Rescuers came to the aid of 3,300 migrants and refugees off the coast of Libya in 24 operations Friday, the Italian coast guard said.

The rescue was a coordinated effort by the coast guard, the European Union Naval Force and nongovernmental organizations, the coast guard said via Twitter.

Seven bodies were recovered, it added.

Libya is a popular jumping-off point for migrants seeking to reach Europe from North Africa via what is known as the Central Mediterranean route. Smuggling networks are well-established there, and the lack of an effective central government makes the job of traffickers easier.

'These crossings are nothing but fatal'

But the crossing can be treacherous, with too many migrants -- some fleeing war or persecution, others seeking a better life -- crammed into what are often barely seaworthy boats.

A child is rescued by Proactiva Open Arms, a nongovernmental organization, in early October.

According to the EU border agency Frontex, the number of migrants crossing the Central Mediterranean fell to nearly 12,700 in September, down 40% from the previous month due to poor weather conditions, but the overall trend for the first nine months of 2016 is in line with 2015.

Most of them were rescued off Libya, the agency said in a statement Friday.

Between January and September, 127,600 migrants headed to Italy via the Central Mediterranean route, the agency said.

Nationals from Nigeria and Guinea accounted for the largest share of those in September, Frontex said.

Doctors Without Borders, or Medecins Sans Frontieres, is among those involved in rescue operations off Libya.

Its ship, the Argos, picked up 802 people Thursday from six rubber boats and one small wooden boat.

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The #Argos 802 guests are claiming any space they can find. It's uncomfortable but no one cares. They're far from #Libya and that's enough.

4:25 PM - 20 Oct 2016

 
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Doctors Without Borders also responded to a pre-dawn rescue Saturday morning, describing it as "awful."

On its official Twitter account, it said an "unknown number of people drowned."

The organization has called for European nations to provide safe and legal channels for people seeking asylum, so they do not have to risk their lives trying to reach European shores.

CNN's Simon Cullen and Julia Jones contributed to this report.

By Laura Smith-Spark, CNN