JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (ADV) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a United Nations (UN) refugee agency has evacuated 159 Eritrean asylum seekers from Tripoli airport. This UNHCR’s move forms part of its effort in continuing its commitment to offer protection to the most vulnerable. According to a statement released by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), most of these asylum seekers who were released from different detention centres across the country were extremely overcrowded and they lacked basic standards. One of the asylum seekers, a young Eritrean man only known as Angusum, who has long left his country fleeing persecution, expressed relief and happiness after his release. A total number of 6 205 migrants and refugees are still detained in Libya, and 4327 are of concern to the UNHCR.

Source: Libya Today February 15, 2019 09:11 UTC