Last month, Libya TV English spoke to the United Nations High Comissioner for Refugees to
see their latest developments in Libya, regarding the status of
refugees. Reports have circulated about the poor conditions many
detainees are living in, which UNHCR’s Chief of Mission in Libya,
Emmanuel Gignac, confirmed, but not without clarifying the importance of
patience in such situations.
“Unfortunately, this is part of the transition. We cannot expect the central authority to have control over everything. We cannot expect this to happen overnight.”
Below is the UNHCR’s May 2013 report on their work and progression in working with refugees in Libya.
Refugees and asylum seekers in detention centers
UNHCR follows very closely the situation of refugees and asylum seekers detained in South Libya. On 17 May, UNHCR was in Sabha to provide plastic sheets, disinfectant and hygiene kits due to the bad hygiene conditions in the detention centre. A follow-up mission was conducted on 23 May to identify unaccompanied minors detained in Sabah detention centre and to negotiate for the release of vulnerable cases. At the time of the visit, 1200 persons were detained including 650 Eritreans and 250 Somalis. Among them were 47 women, 8 pregnant, 2 children and an unidentified number of unaccompanied minors. Two Syrians were also in the detention centre. UNHCR is now advocating for the release of the vulnerable cases including women and children. Regular visits have been conducted also in other detention centres. On 19 May, UNHCR was in Al Khums detention centre to assess medical needs and deliver hygiene material. 213 individuals including 25 women were in the centre. The majority of them had been recently intercepted at sea by the Libyan coast guards and brought to the centre. Overall, as of 30 May, UNHCR registered 911 persons of concern in the following detention facilities: Sabha, Brak Shatti, Surman, Al Khums, Zliten, Sabrata, Gheran and Tawaysha. In another positive development, on 12 May, UNHCR released 6 vulnerable cases from Ajdabiya detention centre. In East Libya, UNHCR and CESVI provided medical assistance to persons of concern in detention. With LibAid, UNHCR is also planning to organise a distribution of relief items to detainees. Finally, in May in Benghazi LRC Camp UNHCR registered 162 Eritreans and 3 Somali.
Protection issues in focus
Opening of registration centre in Tripoli – On 1 May, UNHCR opened
its new refugee registration centre located next to its main office in
Sarraj, Tripoli. Here, UNHCR registers refugees from Syria as well as
vulnerable cases. The centre is also used to provide counseling and to
deliver cash- assistance to vulnerable cases. Mainly Somalis and Syrians
are approaching UNHCR.
UNHCR briefs the Human Rights Committee – On 13 May, UNHCR was invited to give a briefing to the Human Rights Committee at the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli on the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Libya (photo above). The discussions focused on the renewed collaboration between UNHCR and the “Department for Combating Illegal Migration” under the Ministry of Interior to assist refugees and asylum seekers in detention. UNHCR also presented ongoing challenges related to refugees from Syria in the country. UNHCR reiterated its commitment to assist Libya to protect the rights of refugees and to establish asylum institutions.
UNHCR hosts the Refugee Law Committee – On 2 May, UNHCR hosted the meeting of the asylum law committee that was attended by representatives of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, the Organisation of the African Union, UNSMIL and Libyan lawyers.
The
committee is tasked with the drafting of Libya’s asylum law. UNHCR has
participated in the Refugee Law Committee meetings since November 2012
and has provided technical advice, sharing best-practices on asylum
institutions. Once finalised by the committee, the draft law will be
presented to the Ministry of Justice for its review and subsequently to
the General National Congress.
“Unfortunately, this is part of the transition. We cannot expect the central authority to have control over everything. We cannot expect this to happen overnight.”
Below is the UNHCR’s May 2013 report on their work and progression in working with refugees in Libya.
Refugees and asylum seekers in detention centers
UNHCR follows very closely the situation of refugees and asylum seekers detained in South Libya. On 17 May, UNHCR was in Sabha to provide plastic sheets, disinfectant and hygiene kits due to the bad hygiene conditions in the detention centre. A follow-up mission was conducted on 23 May to identify unaccompanied minors detained in Sabah detention centre and to negotiate for the release of vulnerable cases. At the time of the visit, 1200 persons were detained including 650 Eritreans and 250 Somalis. Among them were 47 women, 8 pregnant, 2 children and an unidentified number of unaccompanied minors. Two Syrians were also in the detention centre. UNHCR is now advocating for the release of the vulnerable cases including women and children. Regular visits have been conducted also in other detention centres. On 19 May, UNHCR was in Al Khums detention centre to assess medical needs and deliver hygiene material. 213 individuals including 25 women were in the centre. The majority of them had been recently intercepted at sea by the Libyan coast guards and brought to the centre. Overall, as of 30 May, UNHCR registered 911 persons of concern in the following detention facilities: Sabha, Brak Shatti, Surman, Al Khums, Zliten, Sabrata, Gheran and Tawaysha. In another positive development, on 12 May, UNHCR released 6 vulnerable cases from Ajdabiya detention centre. In East Libya, UNHCR and CESVI provided medical assistance to persons of concern in detention. With LibAid, UNHCR is also planning to organise a distribution of relief items to detainees. Finally, in May in Benghazi LRC Camp UNHCR registered 162 Eritreans and 3 Somali.
Protection issues in focus
Opening of registration centre in Tripoli – On 1 May, UNHCR opened
its new refugee registration centre located next to its main office in
Sarraj, Tripoli. Here, UNHCR registers refugees from Syria as well as
vulnerable cases. The centre is also used to provide counseling and to
deliver cash- assistance to vulnerable cases. Mainly Somalis and Syrians
are approaching UNHCR.UNHCR briefs the Human Rights Committee – On 13 May, UNHCR was invited to give a briefing to the Human Rights Committee at the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli on the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Libya (photo above). The discussions focused on the renewed collaboration between UNHCR and the “Department for Combating Illegal Migration” under the Ministry of Interior to assist refugees and asylum seekers in detention. UNHCR also presented ongoing challenges related to refugees from Syria in the country. UNHCR reiterated its commitment to assist Libya to protect the rights of refugees and to establish asylum institutions.
UNHCR hosts the Refugee Law Committee – On 2 May, UNHCR hosted the meeting of the asylum law committee that was attended by representatives of Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice, the Organisation of the African Union, UNSMIL and Libyan lawyers.
The
committee is tasked with the drafting of Libya’s asylum law. UNHCR has
participated in the Refugee Law Committee meetings since November 2012
and has provided technical advice, sharing best-practices on asylum
institutions. Once finalised by the committee, the draft law will be
presented to the Ministry of Justice for its review and subsequently to
the General National Congress.
Refugees from Syria in Libya
UNHCR is concerned by the harassment faced by Syrian refugees in
Libya. In particular, in Eastern Libya, after the explosions in Benghazi
on 14 May, arrests of Syrians at check points have been reported and
some have been taken to detention centres. In close coordination with
partners, UNHCR is advocating for a greater level of protection to be
granted to Syrian refugees. With mobile teams, UNHCR continues the
systematic registration of refugees from Syria through.
UNHCR also observed that medical services in Misrata are limited. The public health system is unable
to cater to the Syrian population and in particular to assist pregnant women giving birth by cesarean. Accordingly, during the second mission UNHCR discussed with local partners the possibility of establishing a new system of medical referral for refugees from Syria. On 12 May UNHCR was also in Ajdabiya where 139 individuals (35 cases) were registered and received relief items. Overall as of 30 May 2013, 9,610
Syrians
were registered with UNHCR in Libya. out Libya. For example, during
May, four missions to Misratawere conducted on 8-9, 14 -16,
21-23 and 29-30 in order to register refugees from Syria and deliver relief items. To reach out to more Syrians, UNHCR in collaboration with LRC established a new communication strategy using the local radio and the local community.
UNHCR also observed that medical services in Misrata are limited. The public health system is unable
to cater to the Syrian population and in particular to assist pregnant women giving birth by cesarean. Accordingly, during the second mission UNHCR discussed with local partners the possibility of establishing a new system of medical referral for refugees from Syria. On 12 May UNHCR was also in Ajdabiya where 139 individuals (35 cases) were registered and received relief items. Overall as of 30 May 2013, 9,610
Syrians
were registered with UNHCR in Libya. out Libya. For example, during
May, four missions to Misratawere conducted on 8-9, 14 -16,21-23 and 29-30 in order to register refugees from Syria and deliver relief items. To reach out to more Syrians, UNHCR in collaboration with LRC established a new communication strategy using the local radio and the local community.
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