AU, Rwanda, UNHCR to rescue refugees and asylum seekers suffering in Libya
By Amina Wako |
The worsening security situation in Tripoli and surrounding areas has made conditions in Libya particularly dangerous for refugees and migrants.
The African Union (AU), the government of Rwanda, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have launched a joint initiative to evacuate refugees and asylum seekers facing severe hardships in Libya.
With 55,665 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Libya, an estimated 4,700 are currently detained in overcrowded and unsafe conditions, in urgent need of relocation, protection, and assistance.
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The worsening security situation in Tripoli and surrounding areas has made conditions in Libya particularly dangerous for refugees and migrants.
In response, the AU, Rwanda, and UNHCR signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on September 10, 2019, to establish an Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM). This mechanism aims to safely evacuate refugees from Libya and provide them with temporary refuge and lifesaving support.
This joint agreement builds upon an earlier offer by Rwandan President Paul Kagame in 2017 and a coordinated decision by the AU, European Union (EU), and United Nations (UN) to form a joint taskforce. The taskforce’s mission is to protect vulnerable refugees and migrants along migratory routes, with a focus on those stranded in Libya, where conditions have reached critical levels.
Rwanda will lead the implementation of the ETM initiative under the African Union Commission, collaborating with the AU's Special Technical Committee on Migration, Refugees, and Displaced Persons. The framework aligns with the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention and supports the AU’s 2019 theme of the year, which focuses on displaced populations.
This programme will see 500 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from the Horn of Africa and including children and youth at risk, moved to Rwanda as part of its initial phase.
Upon arrival, UNHCR will work to find sustainable solutions for these individuals. UNHCR may resettle some evacuees in third countries, while others may return to their previous asylum countries or their home countries if deemed safe. Rwanda has also offered the possibility for certain individuals to remain within its borders, subject to further authorisation.
Since the signing of the MoU, the UNHCR has safely evacuated 190 refugees from Libya to Rwanda in two phases. This effort is part of a broader UNHCR initiative, which has evacuated over 4,400 people from Libya to various countries since 2017.
The Emergency Transit Mechanism in Niger has enabled the evacuation of 2,900 individuals, with the Emergency Transit Centre in Romania facilitating the transfer of 425 of them to European countries.
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