Libya: Increase of migrant departures from Libya, Europe returns them

Posted On 14 January 2020

Number of times this article was read : 61

Geneva, Jan 14, 2020 – Heavy clashes have spurred a growing exodus of migrants from Libya, but nearly 1,000 intercepted at sea have been forced to return to the war-ravaged country since January 1, the UN said Tuesday.
Since the start of the year, as many as 1,100 migrants have left Libya by sea, according to the International Organization for Migration, adding that a majority had been sent back to the country and detained. “At least 953 migrants, among them 136 women and 85 children, have been returned to Libyan shores in the first two weeks of 2020,” spokeswoman Safa Msehli told reporters in Geneva. “Most were disembarked in Tripoli and all were taken to detention centres,” she added.

At the behest of Italy, Libya’s coastguard routinely blocks migrants from reaching Europe. Rights groups charge that Libya picks up migrants in the Mediterranean and brings them back to overcrowded detention centres, where many have been victims of abuse and forced labour.

The increase in departures comes after a surge in violence in Tripoli, which was temporarily tempered by a weekend halt in fighting, but with the international community so far unable to secure a long term ceasefire.
Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar and his allies were in Moscow on Monday for talks with the UN-recognised government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj that is based in Tripoli.

The talks raised hopes of an end to the latest fighting to wrack Libya since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. But Haftar left Tuesday without signing a longterm ceasefire agreement
aimed at ending nine months of fighting, leaving the future of a fragile truce uncertain.

– ‘Sudden increase’ –

Libya has become a major route for migrants trying to reach Europe, especially in the upheaval and fighting among rival groups that followed Kadhafi’s fall. IOM said “the heaviest clashes Tripoli has seen since hostilities began nine months ago” was clearly pushing more migrants to leave Libya. “There is definitely a sudden increase in departures, partly linked to the security situation,” Msehli said. She said it was unclear exactly how many people left Libya during the first two weeks of last year, but that 23 bodies had been recovered by the coast guard and no migrants were returned to Libya during the period. “The sudden increase in departures is especially alarming given the very limited search and rescue capacity in the Mediterranean,” she said. In addition, she said, more than 1,000 migrants who had registered with IOM to voluntarily return to their home countries remained trapped in Libya due to the security situation. “We definitely believe that all civilians in Tripoli and surrounding areas are at risk,” Msehli said.

Among the civilians are at least 110,000 migrants in urban areas and as many as 4,000 people in detention, she said, reiterating IOM’s demand to dismantle the Libyan migrant detention system. “Alternative solutions that safeguard lives must be found to alleviate the suffering of thousands of men, women and children who are held in inhumane conditions.”

By AFP

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Sahel: A Primer on the Northern Mali Crisis

Sahel: A Primer on the Northern Mali Crisis

Northern Mali has always been a region of turmoil, and the responsibility for the misery there starts with the central government in Bamako. Violence, social, economic and environmental turmoil has hit the people of the Azawad region hard, deeply affecting the Tuareg,...

Algeria boosts defense budget to tackle cross-border threats

Algeria boosts defense budget to tackle cross-border threats

Algeria’s draft Finance Law for the year 2025 earmarks record spending for its military and defense.  The Ministry of Defense, which oversees the country’s armed forces, will receive more than US$25 billion, an increase of over 10% compared to 2024.  The move is...

Libya’s fragmented military and competition for its control

Libya’s fragmented military and competition for its control

While the world is focused on the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, a power struggle continues to destabilize Libya, with protagonists competing for the control of the armed forces. Three factions are now at the center of an ongoing struggle over the fate of the...

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This