MSF_Libya_Detention_Centre_In_Italy
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.

 

MSB96600_Libya
video

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.
Libya_Map_IAR_2022

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

 
Women and children detained at female-only Sorman detention centre, around 60km west of Tripoli, Libya.
Libya

Pushed back to Libya & forced into inhumane detention centres

Latest News 24 Aug 2021
 
Massacre in the Mediterranean is the direct result of European state policies
Migrants

Carnage in the Mediterranean is the direct result of European state policies

Press Release 13 Nov 2020
 
Mental Health

Asylum seeker dies in Libya’s detention centre fire.

Press Release 3 Mar 2020
 
Libya

Nowhere to go but the sea

15 Jan 2020
 
Libya

“He just kept running, despite the wound and the bleeding” – A 20-year-old Libyan man tells his story after I removed shrapnel from his torso

Patient and Staff Stories 22 Aug 2019
 
Libya

Dr Luca, Medical Doctor on board Ocean Viking

Press Release 22 Aug 2019