IOM Reports 5,000 Migrants in Official Detention Centers in Libya
Approximately 5,000 migrants are currently being held in official detention centers in Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). However, this number may not accurately reflect the true scope of the problem. Speaking at a conference in Geneva on March 8th, IOM Chief Antonio Vitorino expressed concern over the “violation of the rights of migrants” in Libya and urged the international community to explore alternatives to detention for those seeking refuge.
Since the fall of former Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, the country has become a popular route for migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. However, these migrants often face poor living conditions and mistreatment upon arrival. The IOM and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) work together to provide assistance to those being held in official detention centers in Libya, but there is still much work to be done to improve conditions for these individuals.
Vitorino also called on the European Union to provide clarity and predictability regarding search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. When migrants attempt the dangerous journey across the sea to reach Europe, they are often intercepted by authorities and returned to Libya, where they may be placed in detention centers. Italy has become a popular destination for asylum seekers from North Africa, but a new law introduced in January has limited humanitarian ships to carrying out only one rescue at a time.
Vitorino met with Italian officials last week to discuss the situation, but did not provide further details about the discussion. Last October, human rights organizations protested the renewal of an agreement between Italy and Libya that aims to prevent migrants and refugees from reaching Europe’s shores.
