Unhcr: evacuated 98 refugees from Libya to Italy
2019-09-12T20:56:12.615Z
A group of 98 refugees were evacuated today from Libya to Italy. This is the third direct humanitarian evacuation carried out this year towards the country. The news was announced by UNHCR in a statement, according to which, with the conflict that continues to rage in Libya, evacuation operations represent a lifeline for the most vulnerable refugees in detention centers and in urban and who desperately need security and protection. The people evacuated come from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, and among them there are also 52 unaccompanied minors. The smallest is Yousef, a seven-month-old Somali child born in a detention center and traveling with his parents. Most refugees have long been held in detention centers in Libya, some for over eight months. "Today we have safely transferred 98 people, but they are still few compared to the thousands who need help. There are still over 3,600 refugees in detention centers. We must urgently find a solution for them, as for thousands of the most vulnerable refugees in urban contexts, "said Jean-Paul Cavalieri, head of UNHCR's Libya mission. UNHCR expresses its gratitude for the cooperation of the ministry of "Internal Libyan and for the support of the LibAid partner organization in guaranteeing the release and transfer of refugees from detention centers." Today's evacuation is an example of solidarity, we thank the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration Ministry of the Interior and the Border Police for making it possible. We hope that other countries follow this example and carry out similar life-saving humanitarian operations, "said Roland Schilling, UNHCR Regional Representative for Southern Europe. Prior to the evacuation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees obtained the release of refugees from detention centers and transferred them to a Collection and Departure Center (Gathering and Departure Facility - GDF) in Tripoli, where they received food, shelter, medical care, psychosocial support as well as clothing and hygiene products. With this operation, the number of vulnerable refugees assisted by UNHCR and evacuated from Libya in 2019 rises to 1,474, of which 710 were transferred to Niger, 393 in Italy, and 371 were resettled in Europe and Canada A group of 98 vulnerable refugees, including 52 unaccompanied children https://t.co/YF9SMUJStS - UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) September 12, 2019
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12 September 2019A group of 98 refugees were evacuated today from Libya to Italy. This is the third direct humanitarian evacuation carried out this year towards the country. The news was announced by UNHCR in a statement, according to which, with the conflict that continues to rage in Libya, evacuation operations represent a lifeline for the most vulnerable refugees in detention centers and in urban and who desperately need security and protection. The people evacuated come from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, and among them there are also 52 unaccompanied minors. The smallest is Yousef, a seven-month-old Somali child born in a detention center and traveling with his parents. Most refugees have long been held in detention centers in Libya, some for over eight months. "Today we have safely transferred 98 people, but they are still few compared to the thousands who need help. There are still over 3,600 refugees in detention centers. We urgently need a solution for them, like thousands of vulnerable refugees in urban settings, "said Jean-Paul Cavalieri, head of UNHCR's Libya mission. The UNHCR expresses its gratitude for the cooperation of the Libyan Ministry of the Interior and for the support of the LibAid partner organization in guaranteeing the release and transfer of refugees from detention centers. "Today's evacuation is an example of solidarity, we thank the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior and the Border Police for making it possible. We hope that other countries follow this example and carry out similar operations life-saving humanitarians, "said Roland Schilling, UNHCR Regional Representative for Southern Europe. Prior to the evacuation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees obtained the release of refugees from detention centers and transferred them to a Gathering and Departure Facility (GDF) in Tripoli, where they received food, shelter, medical care, psychosocial support as well as clothes and hygiene products. With this operation the number of vulnerable refugees assisted by UNHCR and evacuated from Libya in 2019 rises to 1,474; among them, 710 were transferred to Niger, 393 in Italy, and 371 were resettled in Europe and Canada. A group of 98 vulnerable refugees have just been evacuated out of Libya to Italy, including 52 unaccompanied children. https://t.co/YF9SMUJStS
- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) September 12, 2019
