France: AI calls for release of 700 refugees detained in centers near fighting zones in Tripoli
Paris, France (PANA) - Amnesty international (AI) has called on the Libyan government to release 700 refugees stranded in a detention center in Qasr bin Ghasher, near the zones of fierce fighting between the Libyan national army led by Khalifa Haftar and forces loyal to the government of Prime Minister Fayez Al Serraj.
“The Libyan government must immediately release all migrants and refugees in retention centers where they are detained illegally and who may be victims of human rights violations and acts of torture,” said Amnesty International in a communiqué issued here on Tuesday.
The organization also called on the Libyan authorities to make all arrangements to see to the security of those migrants and refugees, including women and children, who are deprived of access to food, water and other basic foodstuffs, in a context of intensifying violence in Tripoli and its outskirts.
Amnesty also said that about 3,000 migrants and refugees were stranded in the retention centers of Abu Salim, Gharyan and Qasr bin Ghasher, near the fighting zones and to date, the UN High Commission for Refugees (HCR) managed to facilitate the reintegration of 150 refugees from the center of Ain Zara into its transit and departure center.
HCR however made an urgent appeal on Friday 12 April, calling for the immediate release of refugees and migrants kept in detention centers, with regard to the deterioration of the security situation.
-0- PANA BM/IS/MSA/RA 16Apr2019
