Italian evacuation of refugees
On 9 March, 57 Eritrean refugees, including 21 families and 27 children, were successfully evacuated from the Libyan capital to Italy. It comes as welcome news after CSW's efforts in briefing the international community about the refugees' suffering during the recent uprising in Libya.
Italian NGO Agenzia Habeshia (AHCS) reports that the evacuation was coordinated and facilitated by the Italian Embassy in Tripoli, the Italian Council for Refugees (CIR), Catholic Bishop Giovanni Martinelli of Tripoli, and AHCS president, Don Mussie Zerai. The 57 Eritreans were part of a larger group of around 2,000 refugees who have sought the protection of Bishop Martinelli.
Increased harassment following false accusations Already subject to harassment, abuse and arbitrary imprisonment in Libya because of their ethnicity, the situation for refugees and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa deteriorated further following reports of attacks on Libyan civilians by "African mercenaries", and televised claims by Saif al Islam, President Ghaddafi's son, that illegal immigrants were responsible for inciting the current unrest.
Caught in Libyan conflict
There are now increasing reports of attacks on sub-Saharan African refugees and asylum seekers in both government-controlled and rebel-held areas. Between 22 and 23 February, armed men are reported to have snatched nineteen Eritrean refugees from their homes in Tripoli, who have not been seen or heard from since. Also in Tripoli, around 1,800 Eritrean refugees were reportedly driven from their homes by hostile Libyan landlords. Refugees and migrants also report attacks on and round-ups of sub-Saharan Africans, and in detention centres African prisoners are reportedly under pressure to train to fight for the government as a condition of release.
CSW's continues to speak up
In a briefing on the plight of African refugees and migrants in Libya released on 8 March, CSW called on the international community to ensure that war crimes committed by both sides in the Libyan conflict are referred to the International Criminal Court. CSW is also urging the EU to coordinate an international search for temporary asylum countries for refugees, as they will suffer persecution if they are returned to their home nations.
CSW continues to speak up for the continuing plight of Eritrean refugees in Libya. Soon after the 57 refugees were released, CSW's National Director Stuart Windsor said, "we urge the rest of the international community to follow the example of the Italian Government by ensuring that this action marks the beginning of a wider movement to rescue sub-Saharan African refugees who are still trapped in Libya. These people are living under the most appalling pressure, and are facing brutal treatment from both sides of the conflict. They are in urgent need of protection and safety."
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For the many Christians who are in prison in Eritrea for no reason other than their faith, life is terrible. But even if they do manage to escape, they often find themselves in an even worse situation – completely destitute, with no food, no clothes, no money, nowhere to live, and some are still being hunted down by the Eritrean authorities. CSW is there for them in their desperate need, providing the essentials they need to survive, while our advocacy staff work to secure them a better future.
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