Subject: Urgent Appeal on Human Rights Violations Against Refugees in Libya
Dear High Commissioner Grandi,
I am writing to bring to your attention most urgently the ongoing and severe human rights violations against refugees and asylum seekers in Libya. Recent reports indicate a disturbing surge in mass arrests, arbitrary detention, abuse, and inhumane treatment of vulnerable refugees, many of whom are supposedly under UNHCR protection.
Over the weekend, mass arrests were carried out in Tripoli, Gergarish, Medina, Zanzur, and other areas, targeting thousands of asylum seekers and refugees, including pregnant women and children. These individuals have been taken to undisclosed locations, and their whereabouts remain unknown. Many of those affected are Eritrean, Ethiopian, and South Sudanese refugees, all of them facing targeted persecution.
We have received two video clips from Libya showing refugees being chased through the streets by cars, while others are forcibly taken away in trucks to unknown locations. Some sustained injures while trying to escape. These alarming actions are part of a broader, ongoing campaign by the Libyan government against refugees and migrants, fuelled by escalating hate speech and xenophobic rhetoric on social media. It is deeply concerning that these individuals, who should be protected under the mandate of the UNHCR, are instead subjected to violent and degrading treatment.
Law enforcement agents and civilians are collaborating to hunt down asylum seekers and refugees. Homes and belongings have been set ablaze. In fear of capture, many have fled their homes and are now wandering, making them effectively homeless and destitute. Some landlords are evicting refugees out of fear of repercussions.
The international community, including the UNHCR, has a responsibility to ensure the safety and the well-being of these individuals. Therefore, I urge you and your office to take immediate action to:
- Demand that the Libyan government halt mass arrests and unlawful detentions of refugees and asylum seekers.
- Engage with Libyan authorities to ensure the safety and security of the asylum seekers and refugees who have been displaced.
- Provide emergency accommodation for those left homeless and destitute due to the ongoing crisis.
- Secure the release of all detained individuals and ensure they receive adequate support, including healthcare.
- Address the rise in hate speech and xenophobia in Libya, which is fuelling widespread maltreatment of refugees and migrants.
- Strengthen UNHCR’s efforts to protect those under its mandate in Libya.
- Collaborate with the international community in providing humanitarian aid and safe refuge.
- Facilitate the relocation of refugees to a safe third country, if Libyan authorities refuse to host them.
The ongoing neglect and persecution of refugees in Libya is a serious violation of their fundamental human rights which surely cannot be tolerated by all who maintain the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I trust that you and the UNHCR will take swift and decisive action to address this crisis and provide the necessary support to those in need.
Thank you for your attention to this most urgent matter. I look forward to your prompt response and to the steps your office will take to protect these vulnerable individuals.
Respectfully yours
Elizabeth Chyrum
Director
Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)
