Dereliction of Duty by the Libyan Authorities and the UNHCR gravely exacerbates the situation of refugees in Tripoli

The conditions of refugees and asylum seekers in Libya have always been very bad[i] but have worsened and witnessed a sharp deterioration since the beginning of the campaign of raids and arbitrary arrests launched by the security authorities in Tripoli at the beginning of this month[ii]. Hundreds were affected as a result of these indiscriminate campaigns, lost their shelters, lost all their belongings, and became homeless. The campaign of raids was accompanied by acts of violence that terrified vulnerable groups of refugees, leaving them in the open in an unsafe environment.

Human Rights Solidarity Organization (HRS) has learned from confidential sources that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has obtained permission to resume “voluntary return” flights for migrants stranded in Libya, and that it has scheduled four flights to transport migrants before the end of this month[iii]. UNHCR has welcomed “the permission to resume evacuations”, but so far there is no news of the launch or scheduling of resettlement flights for refugees to third countries.