Islam Alatrash is a journalist based in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. His work has appeared in Reuters, Al Jazeera Arabic, DW Arabic and Al Araby, among others.

Libyan militias ‘making a killing’ off kidnapping refugees for ransom

10 Dec 2023  |  www.aljazeera.com  |  English  |  Militias

Libyan militias are exploiting refugees by kidnapping them for ransom, with Bani Walid emerging as a central hub for such activities. Refugees face brutal torture, and their families are coerced into paying large sums for their release. Despite the severity of the situation, the European Union continues to fund the Libyan Coast Guard, which has been infiltrated by criminal gangs. Human rights activists and organizations criticize the EU and Libyan authorities for their inadequate response and call for a more comprehensive approach to tackle human trafficking. The National Human Rights Committee in Libya continues to document violations, but efforts are hampered by the reliance of the Tripoli government on militias for legitimacy.

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Libyan Coast Guard European Union National Human Rights Committee Government of National Unity

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Mohammed Harun Arsalai is an independent journalist - his work has been featured in the Nation, Al Jazeera,
 LA Times, TRT World, Muftah Magazine, The New Arab, OZY, AJ + among many others

Mohammed is cofounder of the independent media project, Documenting Afghanistan. Currently on the based ...

Blaming the rescuers: EU policy lets refugees drown

01 Oct 2023  |  The New Arab  |  English  |  Human Rights

FRONTEX, the EU's border control agency, has been accused of falsely blaming NGOs for the rise in refugee numbers and deaths at sea, according to a report by the University of London's Forensic Oceanography department. The report argues that the real issues lie in EU policies, the Libyan Coast Guard's actions, and regional political and economic contexts. The article highlights the negative impact of these false allegations on NGOs and the broader refugee crisis, criticizing EU and Italian leaders for exploiting the situation to gain political support amid rising far-right sentiment. The piece also discusses the controversial deals between Italy and Libya, which have been condemned by human rights groups for leading to severe abuses against refugees.

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Libyan Coast Guard FRONTEX EU

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Gabriel Chaim is a Brazilian photographer/videographer covering social issues in Middle East for the mainstream media as BBC, NBC, CNN. Specialized in long term projects.

Migrants describe being tortured and raped on perilous journey to Libya

11 Oct 2019  |  www.cnn.com  |  English  |  Libyan Conflict

Migrants from Somalia, Bangladesh, and Yemen describe harrowing experiences of torture, rape, and abuse on their journey to Libya, where they are intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard and detained in centers with poor conditions. Human rights organizations criticize the European Union for funding and training the Libyan Coast Guard, contributing to the cycle of abuse. The UN urges the release of detained migrants, while Libyan officials deny allegations of mistreatment. The article highlights the dire situation faced by migrants and the complex interplay of international policies and humanitarian concerns.

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Libyan Coast Guard Government of National Accord European Union International Organization for Migration Human Rights Watch Global Detention Project UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

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Andrew Connelly is a British freelance print and radio journalist based in London but frequently on the road covering central and eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus. 

On the homefront, Andrew has recently reported on Britain's migration policy, London's Somali communities debating the ...

Don’t Blame Belarus. Blame Brussels.

11 Nov 2021  |  Foreign Policy  |  English  |  Human Rights

The article criticizes the European Union's handling of the migration crisis at its eastern border, arguing that the EU's dysfunctional asylum policies and militarized approach exacerbate the situation. It highlights the role of Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko in facilitating the crisis and criticizes the EU for failing to offer meaningful resettlement opportunities. The article calls for more humane and legal solutions to address migration, rather than normalizing violence and lawbreaking.

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Libyan militias Croatian border guards Greek coast guard European Union Belarusian regime European Commission

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I am a writer. Recent subjects have included a short story about a hunt for unique gestures amid the sad repetitions of stock photography, an essay about money and migration in Juba, South Sudan, and a grammar of redacted documents. 

Currently, I am a 2014 UNESCO Laureate Artist in Creative ...

How coronavirus slammed the door on asylum seekers

15 Jun 2020  |  www.codastory.com  |  English  |  Asylum Seekers

The Covid-19 pandemic has been used by various governments worldwide to intensify anti-immigration measures and close borders to asylum seekers. Despite UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stating that migrants are no more likely to carry the virus, countries like Italy, Hungary, and the United States have implemented harsh policies under the guise of public health. These measures have exacerbated existing xenophobia and worsened conditions for migrants, particularly in refugee camps. The article highlights the political motivations behind these policies and the negative impact on migrant populations.

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Libyan Coast Guard UN Migration Policy Institute Political Capital Institute White House Human Rights Watch

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Sara Creta is an Italian multimedia-journalist, specializing in coverage of humanitarian issues worldwide. With an emphasis on stories that dignify the human struggle, she works closely with NGOs and social service groups to document on-the-ground conditions in forced migration situation, human ...

How Frontex will monitor migrants from space

10 Oct 2023  |  www.editorialedomani.it  |  Italian  |  European Union

Frontex, the European border control agency, has shifted its strategy from rescuing migrants to using advanced surveillance technologies, including satellite data, to monitor and intercept migrant boats in the Mediterranean. This approach, supported by partnerships with military and security industries, has raised ethical concerns, particularly regarding the involvement of the Libyan Coast Guard, which uses the data to return migrants to detention centers. The article highlights the significant role of companies like HawkEye360 in providing surveillance capabilities and criticizes the European Union for its role in this surveillance network.

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Libyan Coast Guard Frontex European Union

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I am an American based in Bonn, Germany. I am only willing to work remotely at the moment due to the pandemic. 

I have worked as a Bundesliga commentator, photographer and writer in some capacity since 2013. My work has been featured primarily on the Bundesliga Fanatic and Deutsche Welle, ...

New images of tortured migrants emerge from Libya

01 Mar 2019  |  www.infomigrants.net  |  English  |  Torture

New images and reports from Channel 4 reveal severe torture and abuse of migrants and refugees in Libyan detention centers, where they are often sold back to traffickers by official guards. The report highlights the dire conditions in these camps, including lack of food, water, and rampant illness. Despite discussions among European and Arab states, the situation is likely to persist, with European nations supporting the Libyan coast guard's efforts to return migrants, leading to significant human suffering. European leaders are criticized for their complicity and inaction.

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Libyan coast guard European Union European Council NGO groups Italian government

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I am freelance journalist speaking native french and quite good English.
 Basically I travel all over Europe and Africa to report abort sports and society.

Libya: Coast Guard Still Informed of Migrants' Fate, According to Frontex

06 Mar 2024  |  fr.africanews.com  |  French  |  European Union

Frontex, the European border and coast guard agency, continues to inform Libyan authorities about migrant boats in distress within Libyan waters, as stated by Frontex chief Hans Leijtens. This follows accusations from the German charity SOS Humanity that Libyan coast guards fired live bullets and displayed violence during a rescue operation. Frontex uses various surveillance methods to monitor EU external borders, including international waters. The EU has funded the Libyan coast guard since 2015 to prevent migrants from reaching Italy, leading to interceptions and returns to Libya. Libya has faced chaos since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011, with reports of abuses by coast guards and detention center staff. Frontex lacks the mandate, funds, and equipment for rescue operations, and at least 962 migrants have died with 1,563 missing off the Libyan coast in 2023, while about 17,200 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya last year.

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Libyan Coast Guard Frontex European Union Associated Press International Organization for Migration

Irene Dominioni is a journalist based in Milano, Italy.

Italy Refinances Immigration Agreement With Libya Amid Protests

18 Jul 2020  |  Forbes  |  English  |  International Relations

The Italian parliament has renewed its immigration agreement with Libya, providing €22 million to the Libyan coast guard despite widespread criticism of human rights violations. The decision, supported by the right-wing opposition and the left-wing Democratic Party, has sparked controversy and accusations of hypocrisy. The renewal coincides with calls to abolish the 'security decrees' initiated by far-right leader Matteo Salvini, which have been deemed unconstitutional by the Italian Constitutional Court. Critics argue that the agreement and the decrees contribute to the worsening conditions for migrants.

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Libyan Coast Guard Italian Parliament Democratic Party Five Star Movement Liberi e Uguali Lega UNHCR Italian Constitutional Court

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LEXIE HARRISON-CRIPPS is a photojournalist based in Mexico City, Mexico. She is internationally published and currently freelances for three international agencies as well as for UK national press.  She has extensive experience working with environmental groups, activists, migration stories and ...

Europe’s African Border

08 Sept 2022  |  www.palabranahj.org  |  English  |  European Union

The article highlights the perilous journey of migrants like Mahmoud, who attempt to cross the Central Mediterranean to reach Europe, often facing dire conditions and repeated interceptions by the Libyan Coast Guard. Despite international laws and human rights obligations, the EU and other countries continue to externalize borders, leading to inhumane detention conditions in Libya. The narrative underscores the desperation driving migrants to risk their lives, the role of organizations like Doctors Without Borders in rescue operations, and the criticism of EU policies that prioritize border control over humanitarian concerns.

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Libyan Coast Guard Doctors Without Borders International Organization for Migration European Union United Nations International Centre for Migration Policy Development

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André Liohn lived in Botucatu, Brazil during his childhood. In his early 20s he moved to Trondheim, Norway where he lived for 15 years. He started photographing at the age of 30. In his first years in photography, he met the Czech photographer Antonín Kratochvíl who became his personal friend and ...

Libyan Coast Guard Returns Europe-Bound Migrants to War Zone

15 Jan 2024  |  WSJ  |  English  |  Maritime Incidents

A group of 45 African migrants, stranded on an inflatable raft in the Mediterranean Sea, sent out an SOS message in hopes of being rescued and taken to Italy. Instead of a rescue ship, they were approached by a Libyan Coast Guard vessel. The coast guard provided first aid and life preservers but also brandished an AK-47 to compel the migrants, who were suffering from dehydration and exposure to saltwater, to board their vessel. The migrants were then forcibly returned to Libya, which is currently a conflict zone.

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Libyan Coast Guard

I'm a journalist student and a freelance based in Rome, Italy, graduated in Political Science. 
At the moment I work for AGTW, a video news agency from Rome, as a journalist and videoeditor
online journalist, specialized in writing about politics, democracy, environment and culture. I use to work ...

Migrants killed by the Libyan Coast Guard: 'They were between 15 and 18 years old'

31 Jul 2020  |  HuffPost Italia  |  Italian  |  Violence

Three Sudanese migrants, aged between 15 and 18, were killed by the Libyan Coast Guard in Khums, Libya, with two more severely injured. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) treated the wounded and condemned the shootings of unarmed individuals fleeing to avoid arbitrary detention. The victims were part of a group of 73 intercepted at sea and returned to Khums. MSF's Sacha Petiot criticized the EU for considering Libya a safe harbor and called for an effective search and rescue mechanism, a sustainable system for safe harbor disembarkation, and the urgent establishment of legal and safe routes for vulnerable people.

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Libyan Coast Guard Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) European Union

Yaiza Martín-Fradejas is a Spanish journalist based in Paris, France. She is specialized in international information in audiovisual media. She has experience in radio and television, but also in web. She is currently working for Radio France International and Euronews but she is open to possible ...

Hundreds of immigrants from Libya rescued in the Mediterranean

11 Mar 2018  |  es.euronews.com  |  Spanish  |  Rescue Operation

Around 650 people from Libya were rescued in the Mediterranean over the weekend by two non-governmental rescue ships, 'Aquarius' and 'Proactiva Open Arms', as well as by the Libyan Coast Guard. The Libyan Coast Guard intercepted three boats carrying about 335 immigrants, who were transferred to a naval base in Tripoli. 'Aquarius' rescued 110 people, and 'Proactiva Open Arms' confirmed to Euronews the rescue of 202 individuals by the Spanish ship. Traffickers took advantage of the good weather conditions to send several boats towards Italy.

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Libyan Coast Guard

Marc Martorell Junyent holds a Bachelor in International Relations and is a second-year student of a master in Comparative and Middle East Politics and Society at the University of Tübingen, Germany. His research and political analysis focuses on the Middle East and North Africa region, with ...

The EU Cares More About Keeping Migrants in Tunisia Than Saving the Country’s Democracy

01 Oct 2023  |  DAWN  |  English  |  International Relations

The European Union's recent actions in Tunisia, particularly its focus on migration control over supporting democracy, have drawn criticism. Despite President Kais Saied's autocratic moves, including the detention of opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, the EU has offered significant financial aid contingent on Tunisia's cooperation in managing migrant flows. This approach mirrors Italy's priorities under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, emphasizing economic stability and migration control. The EU's stance has raised concerns about its commitment to democratic principles, with critics arguing that it is propping up Saied's regime at the expense of Tunisia's democratic future.

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Libyan Coast Guard European Union International Monetary Fund European Council on Foreign Relations Ennahda party

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Savin Mattozzi is a journalist based in Naples, Italy. He covers history, culture and politics in southern Italy and the Mediterranean region. His work has been featured in National Geographic, Al Jazeera, Euronews, Are We Europe and Hyphen among others.

On board Life Support, an NGO ship fighting to save migrants in the Mediterranean

07 May 2024  |  Hyphen  |  English  |  Mediterranean Sea

The article details the operations of Life Support, an NGO rescue ship operated by the Italian NGO Emergency, which saves migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. It highlights the challenges faced by migrants, including dangerous journeys and restrictive policies from the Italian government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The article also discusses the broader context of migration in the Mediterranean, including the role of various organizations and the legal complexities involved in rescue operations. Despite the difficulties, the NGO workers remain hopeful about their mission to save lives.

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Libyan Coast Guard Emergency Italian Government Frontex Tunisian Navy International Organization for Migration Entreprise Tunisienne d’Activités Pétrolières

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Agus Morales is a journalist based in Barcelona, Spain.

The Route of Death

14 Jun 2023  |  www.revista5w.com  |  Spanish  |  European Policies

Survivors of a June 14 Mediterranean shipwreck accuse the Greek Coast Guard of causing the disaster that killed hundreds of migrants. The investigation, based on survivor interviews, reveals severe negligence and abuse by traffickers and authorities. The tragedy underscores the failure of European migration policies and the dire conditions faced by migrants. Survivors recount harrowing experiences of abuse, extortion, and neglect, both before and after the shipwreck. The article criticizes the Greek Coast Guard, Frontex, and Libyan authorities for their roles in the tragedy and calls for a reevaluation of European migration policies.

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Libyan Government Greek Coast Guard Frontex

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Pablo Ramiro is a video journalist based in Madrid, Spain. He has worked in different national and international media such as El País or Euronews, in different countries.

The use of migratory pressure as a political weapon against the EU: Turkey, Morocco, and now, Belarus

16 Nov 2021  |  es.euronews.com  |  Spanish  |  International Relations

The article discusses the use of migratory pressure as a political weapon by Belarus, Morocco, and Turkey against the European Union. It highlights the humanitarian crisis at the Poland-Belarus border, where migrants are being used as political tools. The EU has criticized Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and imposed sanctions. Similar tactics by Morocco and Turkey are also examined, with both countries using migration to negotiate with the EU. The article criticizes the EU's migration agreements with these countries, highlighting the negative humanitarian impact.

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Libyan Coast Guard European Union Belarusian Government Polish Government Moroccan Government Turkish Government Amnesty International Italian Government

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Sertan Sanderson is a seasoned journalist with a rich background in covering news and current affairs. Specialising in social change, migration, and cultural impacts, his work is characterised by a deep exploration of the intersection of politics and human rights. 

His reporting has taken him ...

A distress call for human rights: European migration policies put migrants' lives at risk

27 Jan 2021  |  www.infomigrants.net  |  English  |  COVID-19

The Council of Europe's report highlights the ongoing lack of adequate search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean, despite a reduction in sea crossings. It criticizes European countries, particularly Malta, for their inadequate response to distress calls and hindrance of NGO rescue efforts. The report condemns the cooperation with Libya, citing severe human rights violations against migrants. It also addresses the negative impact of COVID-19 measures on migrants and calls for more legal migration pathways and resettlement opportunities.

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Libyan Coast Guard Council of Europe International Organisation for Migration European Union UNHCR

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Eleonora Vasques is a journalist based in Brussels, covering EU affairs and migration. I have been working in Brussels for more than three years, where I developed experience in EU policies and politics. I also worked as a press officer at the European Parliament before lading in the international ...

Exclusive: Libyans fired at rescuers while performing a rescue at sea

07 Jul 2023  |  EURACTIV.com  |  English  |  Human Rights

On July 7, the Libyan coastguard fired shots at SOS Mediterranée's rescue boats during a mission in international waters, where they saved 57 people. The incident involved a vessel donated by the EU to the Libyan coast guard. The Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Mediterranée, was coordinating with the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and was instructed to disembark rescued individuals in Italy. The Libyan coastguard's actions, which included dangerous maneuvers and firing shots, were condemned by the SAR team leader, Alessandro. The EU has faced criticism for its involvement with the Libyan coastguard, which has been accused of colluding with human traffickers and returning migrants to abusive detention centers in Libya.

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Libyan Coast Guard SOS Mediterranée European Union Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre

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Andrea Vogt is an independent journalist and documentary maker based in Bologna, Metropolitan City of Bologna, Italy.  Her dispatches on crime, politics and social affairs have appeared internationally in print, online, radio and broadcast media, including The Guardian, BBC, The Daily Telegraph, ...

Eight-year-old boy travels 3,500 miles in search of a school

21 Mar 2024  |  Yahoo News  |  English  |  Child Welfare

An eight-year-old boy named Oumar from Mali traveled 3,500 miles to Italy in search of education, escaping a jihadist attack, crossing the Sahara, and surviving capture by a Libyan gang and imprisonment. After two attempts to cross the Mediterranean, he was rescued by the NGO lifeboat Ocean Viking. Journalist Angela Nocioni confirmed his story, and upon arrival in Italy, Oumar was reunited with his father via phone. Despite his ordeal, Oumar showed resilience and a desire to attend school, with local authorities working to place him in an elementary school.

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Libyan coast guard Ocean Viking

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Producer, communication officer, coordinator and problem solver (for other people, actually).
I live in Rome but I come from a very small country town in the north of Italy: Sospiro.
Passionate for stories, unusual trips, parenthesis and full stops.
Sometimes I use too many English words while ...

Mediterranean: How (Another) 130 People Die at Sea

06 May 2021  |  La7.it  |  Italian  |  Maritime Disaster

On April 21-22, 2021, a rubber boat carrying about 130 people capsized in the stormy Mediterranean Sea. Alarm Phone activists alerted Libyan, Italian, and Maltese authorities, but the Libyan Coast Guard, coordinating the distress cases, did not utilize a nearby merchant ship, Bruna. Despite a Mayday Relay and Frontex aerial surveillance, the boat was lost, and contact ceased as the satellite phone battery died. The next morning, remnants of the boat were spotted by merchant ships and a Frontex plane. The NGO Sos Mediterranée's ship Ocean Viking, the only civil society vessel in the area, arrived too late, finding a sea of bodies. Since the beginning of 2021, over 500 people have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean, according to ISPI.

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Libyan Coast Guard Alarm Phone Frontex