UN renews ship inspections off Libya for smuggled migrants

The U.N. Security Council has voted unanimously to authorize for another year the inspection of vessels off the coast of Libya suspected of smuggling migrants or engaging in human trafficking from the North African nation

The United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Thursday to allow for another year to search ships off the Libyan coast suspected of smuggling migrants or engaging in people smuggling from the North African country.

The resolution reaffirms the need to end the spread of smuggling in the Mediterranean, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his latest report remains "among the most deadly routes for refugees and migrants trying to reach Europe".

The measure also condemns all acts of migrant smuggling and human trafficking to, through and to Libyan territory and off the Libyan coast, which undermine the stability process in Libya and endanger the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Libya,

Which descended into chaos in the wake of the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Muammar Gaddafi, has emerged as a major transit point for African and Arab migrants seeking to reach Europe as a way to escape war and poverty. Most migrants make the perilous journey in ill-equipped and unsafe inflatable boats.

The European Union set up a naval mission, Operation Sophia, in 2015 after tens of thousands of migrants began trying to cross the Mediterranean. But Italy blocked Operation Sophia, saying that the warships had drawn migrants to the shores of Europe. Airplanes and drones are still used.

In March 2020,

The European Union launched a new operation in the Mediterranean aimed at enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya, saying it would use air, sea and satellite assets.

According to the report of the United Nations Secretary-General distributed on Thursday, in the year ending September 2, the United Nations Office for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration estimated 1,

751 refugees and migrants lost their lives or went missing in the Mediterranean - more than 1,344 at the central crossing. It said that was down from 2,192 the previous year.

The European Union estimated that 52,537 migrants and refugees were rescued or intercepted in 1,125 operations by various ships in the region of Libya. more than 12

The report stated that 352 people were intercepted and returned to Libya.

Guterres said that “migrant smuggling and human trafficking constitute violations of international human rights law,” and called for the “decriminalization” of the entry, stay, and departure of migrants from Libya.

He also said that "collective expulsion is prohibited under international law and must end."

The Secretary-General of the United Nations urged countries along the migrant smuggling routes that lead to Libya to protect survivors of smuggling and trafficking and to criminalize such acts.

Guterres reiterated his call for a "predictable and credible disembarkation agreement" involving all 27 EU member states, on the basis of shared responsibility.

He said there was also an urgent need for a "holistic approach" to address the root causes of irregular migration and called for the urgent expansion of "safe and dignified pathways for regular migration".

"With a view to sharing responsibilities with Libya,

Guterres said the international community should provide more resettlement opportunities and humanitarian evacuations of refugees from Libya.

BY
ProBuzzFeed