UN: Migrants, refugees in Libya must be freed

THE HEADS of two refugee agencies called Thursday for refugees and migrants held in Libyan centres to be freed and for countries to take them in.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and International Organization for Migration director Antonio Vitorino asked in a joint statement “that 5,600 refugees and migrants currently held in centres across Libya be freed in an orderly manner and their protection guaranteed.”

Failing that, they should be “evacuated to other countries from where accelerated resettlement is needed,” their statement said.

On July 3, more than 50 refugees and migrants were killed during an airstrike on the Tajoura detention centre in eastern Tripoli, the statement noted.

After insisting that “countries must step forward with more evacuation and resettlement places,” it added that resources were also needed to allow any migrants who wished to return home to be able to do so.

According to UN figures, around 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers now live in Libya, along with 800,000 migrants.

The statement insisted that migrant rescue ships operated by non-governmental organisations “must not be penalised for saving lives at sea.

“Commercial vessels must not be directed to bring rescued passengers back to Libya,” either, it added.