TRIPOLI, Sep. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Thursday that 66 refugees were evacuated from Libya to Rwanda.

"66 refugees have departed today from the Gathering and Departure Facility in Tripoli to Misrata airport from where they will be evacuated to Rwanda," the UNHCR tweeted.

"The newly set Transit Mechanism in Rwanda will provide much-needed safety for refugees stranded in Libya for years," it added.

The evacuated refugees include many unaccompanied minors and single mothers, the UNHCR said.

Libya has become a preferred departure point for illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe due to 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 migrants rescued at sea or arrested by the Libyan security services.