Libya migrant detention centre struggles to cope скачать в хорошем качестве

Libya migrant detention centre struggles to cope

(18 Jul 2016) Libyan immigrant detention centres are struggling to cope with the huge numbers of African illegal immigrants looking for work in the country or trying to make their way to Europe. Abu Salim is situated in the capital Tripoli and is dedicated to providing food, temporary accommodation and medical assistance to the thousands of Africans who end up there. However like most centres across the country it is bursting at the seams. After the fall of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, Libya was plunged into chaos, with rebel groups evolving into militias loosely aligned with various competing governments or operating on their own and carving out fiefdoms around the country. The collapse of state control and enforcement of borders proved a draw for migrants. Some militias use smuggling as a revenue source. But the chaos has also made Africans vulnerable to abuse, whether they are working in Libya or seeking to head on to Europe. Armed groups often detain Africans, ostensibly claiming to be enforcing the laws but really just to extort money or labour. Various factions run detention centres largely on their own without answering to central authorities. For the past year, EU naval vessels in the Mediterranean have been working to intercept smuggling boats in a programme called Operation Sophia. In June, the operation was extended for another year and expanded, with the EU now training the Libyan coast guard and navy in stopping smuggling The aim is in part to save lives. In 2015, at least 3,771 would-be migrants died in the Mediterranean, according to the International Organisation for Migration. So far, 2016 is looking as bad if not worse. The IOM has so far documented nearly 2,920 deaths, the vast majority of them from African nations. Operation Sophia is also aimed at deterring migrants from coming by shutting down the smuggling routes. However even if the smugglers are stopped in their tracks, this is of little benefit to the thousands of Africans already detained in Libya. Major Ramadan Al-Rayes is head of the Abu Salim illegal immigration detention centre. He told AP that he was still concerned about the rising numbers in his camp. With Libya itself being unstable, he said it was very hard for them to provide the refugees with good living conditions. He believes the international community needs to help Libya to improve its general security situation, and thereby improve the situation of the thousands of migrants locked up in detention centres across the country. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...