Libyan marine rescue zone aims to ‘organize’ NGOs: Navy
TRIPOLI: Libya is not “preventing” non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from carrying out migrant rescue operations off its coast, but has set up a coastal search and rescue zone to “organize” their work, its navy said.
The navy last week ordered unauthorized foreign vessels to stay out of Libya’s coastal zone, a measure it said targeted NGOs carrying out search and rescue missions for migrants headed toward Europe.
Several NGOs including Doctors without Borders (MSF), Germany’s Sea-Eye and Britain’s Save the Children have since suspended their operations. Tripoli has long accused the NGOs of collaboration with people traffickers.
“We did not announce any prohibited zone, nor did we prevent any party or organization from carrying out clear, transparent rescue operations,” the navy said in a statement.
“What we announced was aimed at organizing the work, which has become chaotic and arbitrary.”
Six years since a revolution that toppled longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi, Libya has become a departure point for masses of migrants risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, mostly heading for Italy.
The Libyan navy called the situation “chaotic, especially close to Libyan waters.”
It said the NGOs’ decision to suspend operations was “regrettable” but denied it was responsible, blasting the NGOs’ “aggressive discourse” that was “smearing” Libya.