by Manal Banana/GICJ
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) stated on Friday that the Libyan government must address the dire status of asylum seekers and refugees immediately and in a "compassionate way compatible with international human rights law". According to the UNHCR, Libyan authorities launched a large-scale search and arrest campaign this last month, in areas largely populated by refugees and asylum seekers. This operation led to a number of deaths and imprisonments and a large wave of homelessness and destitution.
According to UNHCR, the situation for the 3,000 individuals who are now sheltering outside the Community Day Centre (CDC) in Tripoli is "extremely perilous." Many individuals have been impacted by the raids; their homes have been damaged and some have been placed under inhumane conditions of detention. Others have joined the CDC in hopes of being evacuated but according to the agency "many people have been left homeless and have lost all of their goods as a result of the security operation, and they are now sleeping outside in the cold and in a dangerous environment."
The UNHCR and its partners offered medical care and other services at the center, but activities were halted by the government under security pretenses. Staff from the CDC are speaking with protesters outside the facility to explain the limited aid available, which means limited food and practically no cash.
Additionally, security forces have been deployed with unnecessary and disproportionate measure to detain women, children, and men during a raid by Ministry of Interior officials on an informal community in Gergaresh, about 12 kilometers west of Tripoli. At least one person was killed, five were injured, and over 4,000 people were detained.
The UNHCR reiterated its willingness to support an urgent action plan that might help alleviate the suffering of asylum seekers and refugees in Libya. The agency welcomed the initiative of the authorities to start humanitarian evacuation flights: "this is a welcome development for some of the most vulnerable refugees, who have been waiting for months to go."
GICJ supports the UNHCR’s calls to immediate action by the Libyan government. The Libyan government must guarantee basic human rights to all migrants on its territory regardless of their migration status. Given the number of children, and other vulnerable adults in the asylum-seeking population, the Libyan government must immediately start to respect its commitments to upholding human rights.
Justice, Human rights, Geneva, geneva4justice, GICJ, Geneva International Centre For Justice
