TRIPOLI, Libya
February 15, 2019
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has evacuated 159 Eritrean asylum-seekers from Libya to the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) in Niamey, continuing its commitment to offer protection to the most vulnerable.
The asylum-seekers were released from different detention centers across the country.
According to UNHCR, the asylum-seekers were transported to their gathering and departure facility earlier this week.
They were able to access better basic needs such as food, water, sanitation, medication and psychosocial support.
UNCHR added that they processed their cases and issued proper documentation to allow the asylum-seekers travel safely towards Niamey.
In Libya, 6,205 migrants and refugees are still detained, of whom 4,327 are of concern to UNHCR
“After 4 years in Libya languishing in traffickers’ hangars first, and then in detention centres, I felt the most precious years of my life were lost, but my prayers were finally answered and my life starts again today”, said Angusum, a young Eritrean man who have long left his country fleeing persecution.
Reports from UNHCR indicate that 6,205 migrants and refugees are still detained across Libya, of whom 4,327 are of concern to them.
UNHCR has also been advocating for their release and called on the International community to support measures that would put an end to these innocent people.
Life-saving evacuation of vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers from Libya has reached 3175 persons, having evacuated 2491 persons to Niger, 415 to Italy, and 269 to Romania.
UNHCR reiterates its gratitude to the governments of Libya and Niger for this extraordinary cooperation with UNHCR that enables the evacuations to happen, lives to be saved and durable solutions to be found.
The European Union Trust Fund for North Africa (EUTF) continues to be a fundamental support to the evacuations out of Libya, offering the most vulnerable a life-changing opportunity to access safety.
