A lot of these migrants are traveling via sea from the coast of Africa to European countries, no? The article posits that the EU is funding the Libyan government to intercept these boats and put them in offshore detention -- what safe land did they pass through? Would you consider Libya a safe country for their ultimate asylum if they're being detained in these horrific conditions?

They're not Lybians escaping Lybia.. They're Subsaharan Africans trying to get to Europe because they don't like where they were born, which is understandable, but is not grounds for asylum.

The reason the EU asks the Lybian coast guard to intercept is because German NGO ships are patrolling just outside the maritime borders waiting to ferry people to whatever unlucky Southern European country is forced to accept them.

How about those who buy plane tickets from Iraq to Belarus and then try to go through Polish border to get to EU?

Also, which country in North Africa is currently not safe to be? I'm not aware of any war currently happening in Lybia, Tunisia, Egypt?

Walking to another country is _way_ safer then crossing the water in an unsafe boat.