Thousands of refugees and migrants trapped in detention centres across Libya should be evacuated to Europe, the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has said.

The International Organization for Migration said a boat carrying dozens of Europe-bound migrants has capsized off Libya’s Mediterranean coast, as the search for survivors continues.

Libya’s coast guard rescued 290 migrants clinging to inflatable rafts on Friday in two operations near the capital Tripoli, a naval forces spokesman said.

Libyan Coast Guard rescued 61 illegal immigrants, among them a child off the coast of Zawiya city west of Libya.

Libya’s coast guard said it rescued nearly 150 Europe-bound migrants, including women and children, off the country’s Mediterranean coast.

Libya’s coast guard said on Wednesday it has rescued 96 migrants off the Mediterranean coast while attempting to reach Europe.

Coast Guard Commander, Rida Issa, said that a patrol of Zawiya Coast Guard has intercepted two rubber boats belonging to warlord Khalifa Haftar’s forces, saying that any attempted sea attack on the western region will be a suicide.

Eight international NGOs including Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders demanded on Thursday that France suspend the delivery of boats to Libya’s coastguard on concerns they would be used to intercept migrants.

The Italian government has confirmed the ”full legitimacy of Libyan rescue operations” in the Mediterranean Sea in light of the opinion expressed by the European Commission that ”Libya can and must rescue immigrants at sea” and can therefore be considered a safe port.

The Libyan Navy and Coast Guard have warned NGOs not to enter the country’s territorial waters or operate close to the Libyan coastguards.