European Parliament debates the situation in Tigray, urges humanitarian access and investigation of crimes
12 Feb 2021

European Parliament debates the situation in Tigray, urges humanitarian access and investigation of crimes

by | posted in: Abiy Ahmed, Asylum Seekers, Eritrea, Ethiopia, European Commission, European Parliament, European Politics, European Union, Horn of Africa region, Human Rights abuses, Malnutrition, Migration, Refugee Camps, Starvation, UNHCR | 0

On Thursday 11 February, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and the Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen met in a plenary session, debating on “The humanitarian situation in Ethiopia”. The Commissioner opened the debate underlying that the European Union (EU) is deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region. The EU is calling for the end of hostilities, full humanitarian access to be exercised independently from the Ethiopian administration, and investigations over alleged human rights violations. MEPs focused largely on the severe human rights abuses, presence of Eritrean soldiers on the ground in Tigray and the EU approach to the conflict.

European Union imposes additional sanctions for human rights abuses and arms embargo violations in Libya
30 Sep 2020

European Union imposes additional sanctions for human rights abuses and arms embargo violations in Libya

by | posted in: Arms embargo, EU funding, European Politics, European Union, Human Rights abuses, Libya, Operation Irini, Sanctions, United Nations | 0

The European Union (EU) has implemented sanctions on three entities that have violated the UN arms embargo in Libya. Additionally, two individuals have also been sanctioned, one individual for human rights abuses against migrants and refugees in the notorious human trafficking hub Bani Walid, and the other for supplying military equipment material to the country. The sanctions are the result of follow-up by the EU on Libya, which it states is part of its commitment to peace and security in the country. This article outlines some of the activities and statements of the EU in relation to Libya in the last month.

News Highlights: Alarm Phone’s reconstruction of deadly shipwreck week, refugee food rations cut amid funding shortages in East Africa, Italy convicts three men for crimes in Libyan detention center
28 Aug 2020

News Highlights: Alarm Phone’s reconstruction of deadly shipwreck week, refugee food rations cut amid funding shortages in East Africa, Italy convicts three men for crimes in Libyan detention center

by | posted in: Abiy Ahmed, Africa, Asylum Seekers, Coast guards, COVID-19, Detention, Eritrea, Ethiopia, European Politics, European Union, IOM, Torture, United Nations, Weekly news highlights | 0

In this week’s news highlights: Alarm Phone’s reconstruction of deadly week of shipwrecks off Libya’s coast; 15-fold increase in Libyan COVID-19 cases; IOM resumes migrant repatriation flights from Libya; Major food ration cuts for refugees in East Africa amid funding shortages; Many missing persons from Horn countries and Libya; Eritrean activist missing for over two years in Ethiopia; Italy convicts three men to twenty years in prison for crimes in Libyan detention centre; NGO Mediterranea to resume search-and-rescue operations; France relocates 49 unaccompanied children from Greece; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s restrictions on asylum seekers “discriminatory and reckless”; And Greece continues to claim ‘fake news’ as evidence of abuse and illegal pushbacks mount.