UN hails planned Libyan refugee transit centre

Geneva, Nov 29 (IANS/AKI) United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said on Wednesday it welcomed a decision by Libyan authorities to set up a "transit and departure facility" in Tripoli to aid the transfer to host countries of thousands of people in need of international protection.

"This initiative is a decisive step forward, and we are grateful for the strong commitment of the Libyan government in making this possible, as well as for the important role played by the government of Italy," said Roberto Mignone, UNHCR Representative to Libya.

"We hope that thousands of the most vulnerable refugees currently in Libya will benefit from this forward-looking initiative," he said.

At the planned facility, UNHCR staff and partners will provide registration and live-saving assistance such as accommodation, food, medical care and psychosocial support, the UN agency said.

The main objective of the Tripoli facility will be to speed up the transfer from Libya of separated children and women at risk, he noted.

Solutions for the refugees will include resettlement, family reunification, evacuation to UNHCR-run emergency facilities in other countries, or voluntary returns to their homelands, he said.

Mignone urged EU member states and other countries to "step up with offers of resettlement places and other solutions, including family reunification slots".

Out of 40,000 resettlement places called for by UNHCR in September, only 10,500 place have been pledged so far.

More than 17,000 refugees and migrants are currently detained in Libya, and many more are held by traffickers under the protection of prominent militias, according to UNHCR.

UNHCR said it has successfully secured the release of almost 1,000 asylum seekers and refugees from detention in Libya so far this year.

--IANS/AKI

vd