EU plans additional Libya stimulus package amidst verbal and legal challenges from politicians, experts and NGOs.
30 Apr 2020

EU plans additional Libya stimulus package amidst verbal and legal challenges from politicians, experts and NGOs.

by | posted in: Africa, Coast guards, Detention, EU funding, European Commission, European Parliament, European Politics, European Union, Human Rights abuses, Human Trafficking, IOM, Libya, Migration, Torture, Trafficking, UNHCR, United Nations | 0

While the European Union (EU) is looking to further bolster Libya and the Libyan coastguard, a majority of Members of European Parliament (MEPs) and a number of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) and experts criticize the EU’s involvement in the human rights abuses that are systematically taking place inside Libya. They state that Libya is not a safe place for the disembarkation of migrants and refugees and that by financially supporting Libyan institutions that facilitate widespread and systematic human rights abuses, the EU has been complicit in these crimes. This week steps were taken to address and review the EU’s policies and accountability inside Libya.

News highlights: NGOs call for change in EU-Libya relations amidst ECA complaint, Migrant returns to Ethiopia continue despite COVID-19, Greece to close Vathy migrant camp on island of Samos
30 Apr 2020

News highlights: NGOs call for change in EU-Libya relations amidst ECA complaint, Migrant returns to Ethiopia continue despite COVID-19, Greece to close Vathy migrant camp on island of Samos

by | posted in: Africa, Asylum Seekers, Coast guards, COVID-19, Eritrea, Ethiopia, EU funding, European Commission, European Parliament, European Politics, European Union, Germany, Greece, Horn of Africa region, IOM, Italy, Libya, Mediterranean Sea, Migration, Refugee Camps, Search and Rescue Operations, Somalia, UNHCR, United Nations, Weekly news highlights | 0

This week’s news highlights: UK withdraws embassy staff from Eritrea; Rumours about the situation in Eritrea; Ethiopia destroying homes leaving hundreds of people homeless; Thousands of migrants returned to Ethiopia amidst COVID-19; Inadequate preparedness slows COVID-19 response in Somalia; Record of internally displaced persons in 2019; NGOs state that EU policies facilitate the abuse of migrants and refugees in Libya as organisations launch ECA complaint; EU to bolster Libya’s coastguard amidst MEP backlash; WFP says 104.793 people assisted in March amidst COVID-19; Migrants and refugees discriminated in Tunisia; Announcement closure Greek migrant camp; German experts advise on migrant working permit scheme; Asylum seeker in Germany wins court case; Bosnian minister proposes migrants and refugees should be deported; Proposal to map undocumented migrants south Italy; Less people granted Asylum in Europe 2019; Migrants and refugees first victims of COVID-19 containment; And refugees and migrants provide support in medical and agricultural sectors to curb labour shortages

Tunisia makes the first step towards helping migrants in the context of COVID-19
10 Apr 2020

Tunisia makes the first step towards helping migrants in the context of COVID-19

by | posted in: Africa, Asylum Seekers, COVID-19, Migration, Tunisia, Uncategorized, UNHCR | 0

The Tunisian government included migrants in a group of beneficiaries eligible  for financial and in-kind help, due to the spread of COVID-19 but a lot of work still remains to be done as the number of vulnerable people in the country is increasing, writes researcher Morgane Wirtz.