UNHCR – Update on #Libya’s refugee crisis

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Refugees in varying situations are dispersed across Libya’s vastness. Some use Libya as a gateway to Europe, risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean, while others are trying to return to their homes due to displacement during the revolution. 
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are working with all groups in Libya along with NGOs to tackle the issue, and contribute to Libya’s return to security and stability for all citizens.
Although the situation is far from over, gradual progress is evident. As with any long term project, results cannot be expected overnight.
Here is an update of the UNHCR’s latest activity in Libya, including a recap of the maritime incidents of 2013 – updated by Libya TV English due to recent events in July.

Refugees and asylum seekers

The collaboration with the Libyan government is gradually expanding. Yet, the conditions of refugees and asylum seekers, especially in detention, remain unchanged. Persons UNHCR considers in need of international protection, including those intercepted at sea by Libyan authorities, are often detained and mistreated. UNHCR continues to assist persons in detention as well as targeted vulnerable cases in urban areas. Thanks to the collaboration with the Department for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM), UNHCR registers and assists refugees and asylum seekers. In 2013, 2,508 refugees and asylum seekers have been provided with assistance while cases considered to be particularly vulnerable, including pregnant women and women with young children, were released from detention following the advocacy by UNHCR.
In the detention centres in East Libya, medical assistance and relief items are urgently needed. For example, in June, 32 men from Eritrea and 15 women from Eritrea and from Somalia detained in Ajdabiya went on hunger strike because of the poor detention conditions. UNHCR’s partner CESVI visited them and UNCHR is now liaising with authorities to address the situation. In a separate mission to Ajdabiya on 16 June, UNHCR registered 44 Syrian refugees and distributed 200 mattresses, 200 blankets and 40 kitchen-sets. UNHCR and CESVI will soon start delivering financial assistance to hundreds of vulnerable persons fleeing from Syria.

Syrian displacement

Protection challenges faced by refugees from Syria grow more complex as more Syrians approach UNHCR to seek assistance. To address growing needs, the office is discussing with the Prime Minister Office the possibility of collaborating to assist refugees from Syria in Libya. For the time being, UNHCR’s mobile teams in close collaboration with Libyan NGOs conduct weekly missions throughout East and West Libya to register and help refugee from Syria. As of 30 June, UNHCR registered 10,896 Syrian refugees.
On 5-6, 12 and 19 June, UNHCR was in Misrata to register Syrian refugees, deliver attestation letters and distribute relief items. During the first mission, UNHCR and the LRC hospital agreed to set up medical referral mechanisms for emergency cases. Special assistance will be provided to pregnant women in need of a caesarean. During the second and third missions, 141 persons were registered. On 11 June, UNHCR was also in Zawiya to establish the collaboration with the Zawiya Local Council and local NGOs on the registration of Syrians. Mobile teams are being reinforced also in East Libya. Missions to Al Marj and Al Abyar took place on 2 and 4 July and 277 refugees from Syria were registered.

Internally displaced persons

The displaced community from Tawergha had planned to return en mass to their hometown on 25 June. While discouraging the return because of the lack of conditions ensuring safety and dignity, UNHCR liaised with concerned authorities and partners including the Libyan Humanitarian Agency (LibAid) sharing information and planning for the possible delivery of assistance. Eventually the return was postponed. However a group of 200 persons tried to return departing from Benghazi but was stopped by tribal leaders in Ajdabiya who persuaded them not to continue. To address the persistent needs of the displaced population, UNHCR conducts regular visits to IDP sites in both East and West Libya.

Maritime incidents

UNHCR estimates that in the first six months of 2013, approximately 6,700 migrants and asylum- seekers from Libya landed on the coasts of Italy and Malta, twice as many as in 2012. In fact, between January and June 2012, approximately 3,536 persons departed from Libya in an irregular manner. UNHCR praises the efforts made by the Italian, Maltese and Libyan Coast Guard in rescuing boats in distress in their respective territorial waters. Many of them carry persons in need of international protection. Especially because of the recent increase in the number of persons embarking in this perilous journey, it is essential that all concerned parties adhere to the obligations defined by international maritime law. In the first six months of 2013, UNHCR has recorded some 40 deaths among the persons attempting to cross the Mediterranean in an irregular way. This number is based on the interviews conducted with survivors in Europe.
Update – As of July 2013, a further 400 migrants have reached the Maltese shore and over 500 have been rescued off the Italian island, Lampedusa. The increasing numbers have forced the government’s to take action and pressing Libya to take more action in securing the border on the Mediterranean. This brings the total to nearly 8,000 migrants since the beginning of 2013