131 refugees transferred from Libya to Italy

The Community of Sant’Egidio has announced the transfer of 131 refugees from Libya to Italy under the “Humanitarian Corridors” scheme, carried out in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

In a statement, the organisation said the flight would depart from Tripoli, with refugees selected according to humanitarian criteria that take into account their health and social conditions. Upon arrival in Italy, they will be received at designated reception centres.

Sant’Egidio said the refugees were granted entry to Italy under a protocol signed in December 2023 between the Italian Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, the UN refugee agency, and the cultural association ARCI. The agreement has so far enabled 766 people to reach Europe safely.

The statement added that the refugees originate from several African countries affected by conflict and violence, in addition to Palestine. They are expected to be distributed across various Italian regions through humanitarian organisations and partner associations operating refugee reception and integration programmes.

The organisation also noted that the transfer is being carried out within Italy’s approved reception framework, adding that a further 13 people are expected to arrive in Rome in the coming days as part of the programme’s scheduled operations.

The “Humanitarian Corridors” initiative aims to reduce the risks associated with irregular migration across the Mediterranean by providing legal and safe transfer routes for vulnerable groups, including women, children, the sick, and individuals living in difficult humanitarian conditions inside Libya.

According to Italian news agency AKI, the programme is based on cooperation between international humanitarian organisations, the Italian authorities, and the UN refugee agency. Evacuation operations are organised periodically through pre-approved lists to ensure the safety of beneficiaries.

The latest operation comes as Libya continues to serve as one of the main departure points for migrants and refugees attempting to reach Europe, prompting international organisations to strengthen safe evacuation mechanisms as an alternative to dangerous sea crossings that continue to result in frequent fatalities in the Mediterranean.