Rédaction Africa Links 24 with H Mohammed
Published on 2024-03-04 09:46:24
SOS Humanity, a German charity, has made damning accusations against the Libyan coast guard for their actions during a rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea. The charity claims that the coast guard not only threatened their crew members but also caused the death of at least one migrant.
The incident occurred when the German charity’s rescue ship, Humanity 1, was attempting to rescue migrants aboard three unseaworthy boats bound for Europe. The Libyan coast guard intervened violently, using live bullets and forcing many migrants to jump into the water. Despite managing to rescue 77 migrants, many others were taken by the coast guard, separating family members in the process.
Tragically, at least one migrant drowned during the chaotic rescue operation. The charity has condemned the actions of the Libyan coast guard, stating that threatening crew members of rescue vessels and endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants is a clear violation of international law.
The European Union has been providing funding to the Libyan coast guard since 2015, as part of efforts to reduce the flow of migrants from North Africa to Italy. Under this agreement, the coast guard intercepts migrants in Libyan and international waters, returning them to Libya. However, Libya’s ongoing political instability has made it a major transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.
Human traffickers have taken advantage of the chaos in Libya, smuggling migrants across the country’s borders and putting them on dangerous sea voyages. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that hundreds of migrants have died or gone missing off the Libyan coast, with thousands intercepted and returned to Libya each year.
Those who are returned to Libya often end up in government-run detention centers where they face deplorable conditions, including forced labor, abuse, and torture. These practices have been labeled as crimes against humanity by U.N.-commissioned investigators. In some cases, families of detained migrants are extorted for money before being allowed to leave on traffickers’ boats bound for Europe.
The recent incident involving the German charity and the Libyan coast guard highlights the dire situation faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean. Despite efforts to stem the flow of migrants, the humanitarian crisis in the region continues to worsen, with vulnerable individuals falling victim to violence, exploitation, and abuse. As calls for accountability and justice grow louder, it is essential for international authorities to address the root causes of migration and ensure the safety and well-being of all those seeking refuge and asylum.
Read the original article on Libya Update
