30 June 2011 - The conflict that began
in Libya on 17 February 2011 with a popular revolt against
Gaddafi's regime has triggered a mass exodus of the civilian
population into neighbouring countries. Hundreds of thousands of
people have fled, mainly into
Tunisia and Egypt, as a result of
attacks by Gaddafi’s forces on civilian populations, the rebellion
and NATO bombings. Migrant workers and refugees from Sub-Saharan
Africa have been particular targets of violence.
The vast majority of those who have fled were immigrants working
in Libya: over 500,000 persons originating from Egypt, Tunisia,
Bangladesh, Pakistan and
China and numerous Sub-Saharan African
countries.
The
FIDH
report, based on the findings of a mission to the
Egypt-Libya border, reveals the vulnerable situation of refugees
and migrants stranded at the Salloum Land Port and presents
numerous accounts of violence targeting Sub-Saharan African
migrants in Eastern Libya.
Stranded at the border
As in Tunisia, the Egyptian government has maintained open borders
to those fleeing Libya. But the right to enter does not mean the
right to remain, with the exception of those with Libyan
nationality, who until now have been allowed to settle
temporarily. Nationals of other countries wait at the border, in
deplorable and degrading conditions, pending evacuation to their
countries of origin or - for those who cannot return -
resettlement in host countries.
“T
his is the second time that these people have been forced to
become refugees”, explains Geneviève Jacques, FIDH mission
delegate. “
Having fled to Libya to escape conflicts or
persecution in Darfur, Somalia, Ethiopia or Eritrea, they cannot
return home. But too few countries have offered places for
resettlement. As for France, the Minister of the Interior has
issued a public declaration, categorically refusing to resettle
a single refugee from the conflict in Libya. This is
unacceptable and shameful. While several EU countries are
intervening in Libya and claim to support democratic transition
in Tunisia and Egypt, the EU has not taken any initiative to
receive refugees and relieve the countries of first arrival”.
Targeted violence against immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa
The evidence gathered by the FIDH mission points to widespread and
systematic abuses and racially motivated violence targeting
Sub-Saharan Africans in Eastern Libya. FIDH interviewed over 50
migrants who had fled
Benghazi and other areas in Eastern Libya
who reported that black Africans, accused of being mercenaries for
Gaddafi, had been attacked, robbed, sometimes raped and killed. “
The
fatal amalgam “black equals mercenary” has been used to justify
insults, termination of employment without pay, torture and
other degrading acts committed by armed Libyans in the zone
under rebel control,” stated Genevieve Jacques, “
All
those we interviewed reported that they had been forced to leave
their jobs and flee Libya because they feared for their lives”.
These crimes are committed with impunity. There are no
investigations in Libya into these allegations. FIDH transmitted
the findings of this report to the National Interim Council,
calling for independent and effective investigations in accordance
with Libya's obligations under international law. The
International Criminal Court has confirmed that such crimes may
amount to war crimes and therefore fall within its jurisdiction.
FIDH calls on the ICC to pursue investigations into these crimes.
The report is available here
Press contacts :
Arthur Manet : +33 1 43 55 90 19 / +33 6 72 28
42 94
Karine Appy: +33 1 43 55 14 12 / +33 6 48 05
91 57
Twitter : @fidh_ngo