Rédaction Africa Links 24 with H Mohammed
Published on 2024-02-19 13:09:08
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Monday that 74 migrants were intercepted off the coast of Libya last week and returned to the country. The organization stated that from 11 to 17 February 2024, a total of 74 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya.
In 2024 so far, a total of 1,078 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya, including 952 men, 93 women, and 33 children, according to IOM. This highlights the ongoing challenges and dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of safety and better opportunities.
Earlier this week, an Italian top court ruled that handing over refugees and migrants rescued in the Central Mediterranean to the Libyan coast guard is a crime, citing the north African country as not being a safe port. The supreme court judges ruled that facilitating the interception of migrants and refugees by the Libyan coastguard falls under the crime of “abandonment in a state of danger of minors or incapacitated people and arbitrary disembarkation and abandonment of people,” effectively establishing that the 2018 episode amounted to collective refoulement to a country not deemed safe in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
It is known that migrants and refugees returned to Libya after being intercepted at sea are routinely detained and subjected to torture, maltreatment, and abuse, according to multiple reports by international non-governmental organizations. These reports shed light on the grim reality faced by individuals who are intercepted and sent back to Libya.
The statistics from previous years further emphasize the perilous nature of the Central Mediterranean migration route. In 2023, a total of 17,190 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, with 962 losing their lives, and 1,536 going missing off the Libyan coast. Meanwhile, in 2022, 24,684 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 529 died, and 848 went missing.
The ongoing interception and return of migrants to Libya underscore the need for comprehensive and humane responses to migration challenges. As the situation continues to unfold, it is crucial for international organizations and governments to work together to address the root causes of migration and to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals seeking refuge and opportunities for a better life.
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