LIBYAN MIGRANT CRISIS AND RESCUE OPERATIONS AT SEA
The ongoing crisis in Libya continues to force its citizens to travel across the Mediterranean Sea, seeking refuge in Europe. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reports that there are more than 63,600 refugees and migrants in the country who hope to migrate to Europe via one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. Libya’s 1,100 mile coastline on the Mediterranean Sea makes it a gateway for people from the Middle East and African countries to get to Europe. While some of them can traverse the distance successfully, many migrants either die in accidents at sea or are intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard or other authorities and detained in Libya.
On 17 August 2020, a vessel carrying around 80 people caught fire due to an engine explosion, leaving its passengers stranded in the waters for over 40 hours. Given the current COVID-19 situation, most countries in Europe have taken a step back from search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, in an attempt to secure their national borders and contain the pandemic. As a result, distress calls from the sea went unanswered, and the stranded passengers were rescued by passing fishermen who were able to save less than half the passengers on board. Thousands of citizens fleeing internal conflict in their home countries turn to independent rescue missions launched by NGOs. They have since played an essential role in saving endangered lives at sea.
CALL TO ACTION
The migration crisis is a result of widespread human rights violations in the home countries of migrants and their desperation to seek safety in other countries from violent crimes at home. Due to widespread concerns over public health measures in light of the pandemic, countries have suspended resettlement activity for migrants. They have delayed the disembarkation of migrants travelling across the Mediterranean Sea. On 24 August 2020, the UN called for immediate action to initiate and resume search and rescue operations for those aboard such ships and urged countries to prioritise saving lives over politics. IOM and UNHCR further asserted the need for “urgent action” in light of the loss of lives of at least 302 people migrating to Europe. The joint statement issued by the two organisations also calls upon Libyan authorities to take the necessary action required against smugglers and traffickers that make vulnerable migrants and refugees victims of abuse and exploitation.
Anushka is a final year LLB student at the University of Delhi and holds a Bachelor's degree from Lady Shri Ram College, India. She is also pursuing a Diploma in International Trade & Business Law . She has a keen interest in the fields of Gender Justice and Environment Law and has worked with the Ministry of Law and Justice to study ADR mechanisms in India.