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In Libya, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) continued to provide essential healthcare for migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and other people in vulnerable circumstances. We also increased our support for tuberculosis (TB) services.

Our teams provided basic healthcare, mental health support, and sexual and reproductive health consultations in health facilities inside detention centres and in urban settings. We refer patients to hospitals for specialised care. We also offered protection services, aiming to identify people with vulnerabilities and referred them to other organisations in Tripoli who could meet their specific needs.

 

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Libya Head of Mission, Beatrice Lau

Dire conditions for migrants and refugees in detention centres in Libya

Our returned Head of Mission, Beatrice Lau describes the conditions for migrants and refugees in detention centres in Libya. MSF suspended activities in the detention centres in Tripoli in late June 2021, as a response to the level and rate of violence observed towards migrants and refugees held indefinitely in Libya’s detention centres. Despite this latest decision, efforts to intercept, forcibly return and arbitrarily detain men, women and children in detention centres in Libya are ongoing.

Our activities in 2022 in Libya

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2022.

MSF IN LIBYA IN 2022 MSF continued to hear accounts from migrants subjected to multiple forms of ill-treatment, such as physical abuse and sexual and gender-based violence. In addition, migrants reported arbitrary arrests and detention in inhumane conditions, kidnapping, forced labour, human trafficking and family separation.
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In Libya, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) continued to provide essential healthcare for migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and other people in vulnerable circumstances. We also increased our support for tuberculosis (TB) services.

By the end of 2022, there were more than 650,000 migrants in Libya, with 3,489 estimated to be in detention centres managed by the Department for Combating Irregular Migration, between 2,000 and 5,000 in non-official centres scattered across the country.

MSF continued to hear accounts from migrants who were subjected to multiple forms of ill-treatment, such as physical abuse and sexual and gender-based violence. In addition, migrants reported arbitrary arrests and detention in inhumane conditions, kidnapping, forced labour, human trafficking and family separation.

Our teams provided basic healthcare, mental health support, and sexual and reproductive health consultations in health facilities inside detention centres and in urban settings. We refer patients to hospitals for specialised care. We also offered protection services, aiming to identify people with vulnerabilities and referred them to other organisations in Tripoli who could meet their specific needs.

During the year, the Libyan coastguard intercepted at least 24,684 individuals attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea and forcibly returned them to Libya.3 At disembarkation points across the west of the country, our teams offered basic medical services, psychological first aid, emergency referrals and follow-up care. We also distributed food and hygiene kits. After November, we were unable to continue these activities, as permission was withdrawn by the authorities. However, our teams remain ready to respond in case of emergencies.

TB is another focus of our activities in Libya. In 2022, we supported the national TB programme and also assisted with the establishment of the first isolation unit for the management of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in Misrata chest hospital.

IN 2022

 
Overview of the impact of floods in Libya.
Floods

In Derna, MSF doctors and psychologists bring support to the mourning city

Crisis Update 28 Sep 2023
 
MSF Cultural Mediator Nejma helps a survivor on one of the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats
International Women's Day

Tales of Women at Sea

Patient and Staff Stories 8 Mar 2023
 
MSF Flag
Libya

Hundreds of migrants detained after mass arrests in Tripoli, Libya

Press Release 11 Jan 2022
 
MSF, Doctors Without Borders, Med Sea, 10 found dead
Mediterranean Migration

10 more lives lost on the world’s deadliest migration route

Press Release 18 Nov 2021
 
Women detained at female-only Sorman detention centre, around 60km west of Tripoli, Libya. Detainees receive irregular rations that are distributed once or twice day if not at all.
Libya

Thousands of people detained and left with no medical care after mass arrests

Press Release 6 Oct 2021
 
A woman with burns detained in Sorman at female-only detention centre around 60km west of Tripoli, Libya. She is assisted by another detainee.
Libya

MSF returns to Tripoli detention centres after 3 months of suspension

Latest News 30 Sep 2021