Italian authorities announce plan to take in 1,500 additional refugees from Libya
Following an agreement with the United Nations, the Italian government says it will bring in 1,500 refugees and asylum-seekers from Libya over the next three years.
The agreement is an extension of previous resettlement plans, in which Italy evacuated 1,300 refugees and asylum-seekers from Libya.
Speaking on the development, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, said the evacuation deal provided “a critical lifeline for refugees and asylum-seekers facing heightened protection risks”.
The UN refugee body pledged to work with partners to select refugees with the “most critical protection needs” for the exercise.
It called on other countries to replicate the kind gesture of the Italian authorities “in opening humanitarian corridors, easing pressure on host countries”.
Libya is a popular departure location for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean and access Europe.
The country is currently playing host to a staggering 704,369 irregular migrants, as disclosed by data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Over 2,200 people have drowned while attempting the passage this year alone, making it one of the world’s most perilous migration routes, the agency said.
In 2023, more than 153,000 migrants arrived in Italy from Tunisia and Libya, according to the UN’s refugee agency.
