UNHCR: No migrants should be returned to “unsafe” Libya

BY Libyan Express May 14, 2019 - 17:53

The UNHCR also documented the return of 250.000 Libyan IDPs to their cities since the start of 2017. [Photo: the United Nations]

The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that no migrants should be returned to Libya as fighting continues in the capital, Tripoli.

A spokesman for the UNHCR, Charlie Yaxley said Tuesday, returning people to the North African nation can not be considered a rescue.

“In the past week, around 944 people are known to have departed in boats from the Libyan coast. We know that 65 drowned in the incident off Tunisia, but of the survivors, 65 percent were subsequently disembarked in Libya. The UNHCRhas repeatedly called that at this time nobody should be returned to Libya, there are no safe ports there and we cannot consider this to be a rescue if people are being returned to dire conditions inside Tripoli detention centres”, Yaxley said.

At this time nobody should be returned to Libya, there are no safe ports there and we cannot consider this to be a rescue.

A group of aid agencies also called for a U.N resolution to support people caught up in fighting around Tripoli.

Forces loyal to the U.N backed Tripoli government have been defending the city against an offensive by Khalifa Haftar’s forces since April 04.

The U.N says 66,000 people have been forced out of their homes and at least 454 others killed so far.

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