Europe ignoring the plight of Libyan people: NGO
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Associated Press.
London: The head of an international NGO opined that Europe Union has not noticed or acted on the hardships of thousands of migrants in Libya who are held under arbitrary detentions and are facing unfortunate conditions, Arab News reported.
The chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration's presence in Libya, Federico Soda, said that very little is done towards the prosperity and rescue of these migrants who are facing arbitrary detention.
At Brussels, he told the media that most of the member states of Europe were silent on issues in Libya. Only his organisation has raised their voice on many issues there, which is problematic, he said, adding that the kind of the "acquiescence" is what concerns him.
He said that the prevalent attitude of Europe is that since it is not happening on their shore, it does not matter to them.
He said that the international community should express more condemnation and demand law and order as well as an investigation into the situation in Libya.
A recent report by his organisation found that 32,425 people were returned to Libya after trying to travel to Europe last year, which is a record. Most of them were intercepted or rescued from their dangerous travel through small boats across the Mediterranean Sea.
Soda held that the issue is society-wide, and more than one groups are guilty of allowing the Libyan crisis. Arab News quoted him, "It's not about elected people; I think the whole of the community has a responsibility here because when societies become as polarised as we've been on migration issues, I think we all have to look in the mirror and maybe put ourselves in the shoes and the conditions of where these people are coming from."
