The United Nations has warned the International Community not to return migrants rescued from the Mediterranean back to Libya.
The UN reiterated that Migrants and asylum-seekers rescued while trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe should not be sent back to Libya, because of the risk of severe human rights abuses they are likely to face in the divided and lawless country.
The appeal was made during an update to the United Nations official position on migrants and asylum seekers being returned to Libya by their European rescuers.
The UN human rights Agency (UNHCR) warned against the move, which was being suggested by the Interior Minister of Italy, Matteo Salvini in a standoff with other EU nations on the influx of migrants into Europe.
Italy is a popular migrant destination because it is just across the Mediterranean Sea from the coast of Libya and is the entry point to Europe for many African migrants.
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Libya has however descended into lawlessness with various armed factions fighting for control over the country since the murder of Muammar Gaddafi initiated by NATO.
This state of affairs has affected African migrants trying to cross to Europe through Libya as they are abducted, killed, tortured, extorted and sold off into slavery.
According to the UNHCR;
“Insecurity and the lack of governance have enabled illicit activities such as corruption as well as people-smuggling and human trafficking to thrive, further fuelling instability in the country.”
The UNHCR further said proposals to set up processing centres for asylum applications in Libya and other North African countries, as called for in a deal struck by EU leaders in June, did not change its position.
According to the United Nations, 1600 have lost their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean into Europe since the beginning of 2018.
The agency also said only 679,000 migrants were registered as living in Libya out of a possible figure of one million plus.
The UN also reported that migrants rescued by Libyan coastguard vessels are held in detention centres indefinitely, with about 8000 currently held in such centres very often in appalling condition throughout the country.
“In all facilities, detention conditions reportedly fail to meet international standards,” with migrants at “very high risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, including rape and other forms of sexual violence, forced labour as well as extortion.”
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