TRIPOLI, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nation Higher Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR) said on Sunday that it resettled 44 immigrants from Libya to Italy this week.

A total of 44 Syrian, Sudanese, and Palestinian refugees arrived safely this week to Italy from Libya, as part of UNHCR's resettlement program, UNHCR said in a statement.

In Libya, the direct resettlement program is supported by the Regional Development and Protection program for North Africa, co-funded by the EU and a consortium of 14 EU member states with Italy as the leader, according to the statement.

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.

Migrant shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands of migrants rescued at sea or arrested by the Libyan security services.