Evacuation flight from Tripoli to Rome provides lifeline for asylum-seekers with heightened risks

TRIPOLI - This afternoon, an evacuation flight from Tripoli to Rome, Italy, offered a vital lifeline to 97 vulnerable asylum-seekers, marking the first such evacuation from Libya this year. 

Among the evacuated individuals are women at risk of exploitation, survivors of violence, and accompanied children and those with severe medical conditions. The majority of those who were evacuated were refugees from Sudan, followed by Ethiopia, Eritrea and Syria.

Upon reaching Italy, they will receive crucial support from three humanitarian organizations addressing their most urgent needs: Comunita' di Sant'Egidio, Associazione Ricreativa Culturale Italiana (ARCI), and Federazione delle Chiese Evangeliche in Italia (FCEI).

In 2022, similar evacuations brought nearly 400 refugees to safety. These evacuation flights are possible thanks to a close collaboration between UNHCR, the Italian Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

UNHCR warmly welcomes Italy's commitment to refugees who are experiencing some of the most dire hardships and collaborates with partners in identifying and selecting individuals with urgent critical protection needs.

Aseer Al-Madaien, UNHCR’s Chief of Mission in Libya, expressed gratitude, stating, “We are very pleased to see these important flights continue, with the support of the Libyan authorities. They really are a lifeline for some of the most at-risk asylum-seekers who are desperate to find safety after enduring great hardship.”

With over 59,000 registered refugees in Libya, UNHCR continues to rely on the international community to assist in finding more safe pathways out of Libya.

Since 2017, UNHCR has successfully evacuated or resettled 11,335 refugees and asylum seekers out of Libya, among them over 1,300 to Italy alone.

“We urge other states to follow Italy's lead in opening humanitarian corridors, alleviating pressure on host countries and contributing to a more sustainable response to the urgent needs of refugees in Libya and beyond.” Al-Madaien concludes.

For more information: 
Sanne Biesmans  

+216 54 142 917 

biesmans@unhcr.org 

Ziyad Alhamadi 

+218 911 633 375 

alhamadi@unhcr.org