Status: 11/12/2021 3:00 p.m.
International financial aid is intended to stabilize the torn Libya – also to cope with the refugee crisis in the country. But migrants in particular are facing massive reprisals and fear for their existence in Libya.
They have lost almost everything and live on tarpaulins and blankets by the roadside in Serradsch, a district in the west of Tripoli. Around 3,000 migrants from various African countries are struggling to survive, including hundreds of women and children. You want to go to Europe and are stranded in Libya’s capital. Winter is now approaching.
Shooting is not allowed in Serradsch, journalists are not welcome. As we drive through the neighborhood, some of the migrants wave to us, hoping for help. But it only comes sporadically.
Since October 1st, their already precarious situation has deteriorated dramatically. Libyan security forces stormed refugee shelters without warning and arrested around 4,000 people in just a few hours. At least one person died and 15 were wounded. “They lost everything they had in these raids, including where they lived,” says Djamal Zamoum, deputy head of the refugee agency in Libya ARD interview.
Officially, the mission was aimed at the fight against drugs and illegal migration. But those affected feel bullied and humiliated. “They attacked us, humiliated us and injured many,” says Halima Mokthar Bshara from Sudan. Waffagh Driss adds: “We are completely defenseless. Our lives hang by a thread.”
Migrants protested against their living conditions in Triolis in October, but their situation has not improved since then.
Image: EPA
Completely overcrowded detention camps
Thousands were able to break away shortly before the access. They fear nothing more than the detention camps in Tripoli and the surrounding area. They are now said to be three times overcrowded. According to aid organizations, violence, abuse and corruption are the order of the day there. Many can barely sleep there, diseases are spreading, not to mention Corona. On October 8, according to the UN, six migrants were shot dead in a completely overcrowded camp after they revolted against the conditions there.
Actually, migrants in Libya should be given the chance to travel to a third country such as Niger, Rwanda and Italy. But the government simply stopped the flights in April. Now they are to be taken up again. “We are currently planning five flights by the end of the year,” says Djamal Zamoum from the refugee agency. 1100 refugees were registered for this and are now waiting to leave the misery of Libya.
Ten years of war and chaos
Ten years after the death of long-term ruler Muammar Gaddafi, the oil-rich country is trying to make a fresh start. For years there was war between rival gangs. They made millions smuggling refugees, smuggling and drug trafficking. The IS terrorist militia was up to mischief.
Libya was divided in two. An internationally recognized but weak government ruled Tripoli. It relied on militias and Turkey, which sent soldiers and mercenaries. In the east, General Haftar ruled, with the backing of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Since its failed offensive on Tripoli in June 2020, there has been a stalemate in the country.
Both sides agreed on a transitional government and elections on December 24th. Preparations are ongoing, but it is still uncertain whether they will actually take place. The government shows itself to be weak in leadership. The mistrust between all those involved runs deep. There is great concern that old trenches can open again at any time.
The needs of the population
The people in the country have had enough of the chaos of the past ten years and are suffering from the economic decline. Inflation is at 20 percent, the currency has crashed, corruption is flourishing. Many Libyans hope to finally be able to take their fate into their own hands again and are demanding the withdrawal of all foreign mercenaries and soldiers.
But so far neither Turkey nor Russia have shown any real interest in this. They strive for control over the oil in the country, the flow of refugees to Europe.
Risky crossing
Countless ailing ships are still leaving the Libyan coast. Many migrants drown on the dangerous route. Others are caught up by the Libyan Coast Guard and taken back to the misery of Tripoli. “Refugees are seen here as illegal migrants,” says Djamal Zamoum from the refugee agency. “You constantly have to fear that you will be arrested and end up in a detention center.”
Apparently the new government wants to demonstrate toughness in order to score points in the upcoming elections. At the moment, the refugee agency can only reach very few people in need. There is a lack of funds, access to them is difficult and often not safe. Around 500 people are in urgent need of help, says Zamoum. But the government doesn’t want the most vulnerable to have access to life-saving measures.