The United Nations on Monday called on Libya to treat migrants and asylum seekers with dignity, highlighting concerns over their treatment including arbitrary detention and mass expulsion. War-torn Libya is regularly criticised for its handling of migrants, with rights groups alleging horrific treatment by smuggling gangs and inside state-run detention centres. “Thousands of others, including migrants who have entered Libya legally, have been collectively expelled without screening or due process,” it said, calling on Libyan authorities “to halt these actions and treat migrants with dignity and humanity”. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 7,000 migrants have been intercepted at sea and returned to Libya, the IOM said. In the same period, more than 50,000 migrants have landed on Italy’s coast including more than 22,000 from Libya, according to the UN’s refugee agency.

Source: Libya Today June 13, 2023 02:56 UTC