Migrants, Amnesty International accuses Italy, Malta and Europe: colluded with Libya

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Amnesty International accuses Italy, Malta and Europe of being "colluded with the Libyans" and of using the lives of migrants as an "exchange currency". 'Between the devil and the deep blue sea. Europe's failures in refugees and migrants in the central Mediterranean "is the title of a 27-page report in which Amnesty claims that more than 721 people died at sea between June and July, highlighting the new Italian policies that have left people stranded at sea for days and analyzes how EU countries are conspiring to contain refugees and migrants in Libya, where they are exposed to torture and abuse.

"Despite the decline in the number of people trying to cross the Mediterranean in recent months, the number of deaths at sea has surged. The responsibility for the growing number of victims falls on European governments that are more concerned about keeping people out rather that save lives ", said Matteo de Bellis, researcher at Amnesty, an expert in asylum and migration. "European policies have authorized the Libyan Coast Guard to intercept people at sea, having priority over rescues and hindering the vital work of rescue NGOs. The recent increase in deaths at sea is not just a tragedy: it's a shame."

More than doubled the number of internships in Libyan centers
More than doubled, from 4,400 in March to 10,000 at the end of July (including 2,000 among women and children), inmates in Libyan centers. "Virtually - Amnesty writes - they are all people intercepted at sea and brought back to Libya by the Libyan Coast Guard who is equipped, trained and supported by European governments". For this reason, according to the NGO, "European governments are in collusion with the Libyan authorities to contain refugees and migrants in Libya, despite the horrific abuses that risk at the hands of the Libyan Coast Guard and in detention centers in Libya. plans to expand this outsourcing policy in the region are deeply troubling, "says de Bellis. Over the past year, European governments have failed to reach an agreement on crucial reforms for the Dublin system, which could have helped avoid any controversy over the landing of people rescued at sea in Europe. "In response to this, Italy has begun to deny entry to its ports to ships carrying rescued people." This new policy is aimed at NGO ships, merchant ships and even foreign navy ships. Unnecessary delays in the landing force people in need of urgent assistance - including the injured, pregnant women, torture survivors, people traumatized by shipwrecks and unaccompanied minors - to remain at sea for several days.

Italy is using human lives as a bargaining chip
"In its insensitive refusal to allow refugees and migrants to disembark in its ports, Italy is using human lives as a bargaining chip. Desperate people have been left stranded in the sea with insufficient food, water and shelter, while the Italy seeks to increase political pressure by sharing responsibility in other European states, "said Matteo de Bellis. "In addition, the Italian and Maltese authorities have denigrated, intimidated and criminalized the heroic NGOs that try to save lives at sea, refusing their boats permission to land and also confiscated them."

"Italy and European states and institutions must act urgently to give priority to rescuing at sea, and to ensure that relief efforts are landed promptly in countries where they will not be exposed to serious abuses and where they can request asylum".

In the Amnesty report also the Josefa case
The report also describes recent cases in which the reported international laws have been violated. This includes an accident on July 16-17, when the NGO Proactiva found a woman still alive and two bodies on a wreck that sank after the intervention of the Libyan coast Guard, and the refusal of 101 people from the commercial ship to Libya Italian Asso Ventotto on 30 July. "These serious incidents must be promptly and adequately investigated - highlighting the deadly consequences of European policies," said Matteo de Bellis. "European governments must break out of the vicious circle of closure and outsourcing they have created and instead invest in policies that bring order to the system by offering safe opportunities to travel to Europe for both refugees and migrants."