Caritas chief in Libya says 450,000 migrants aspire to cross to Malta, Italy

According to Fr. Alan Arcebuche, Caritas chief in Tripoli, “more than 450,000 Africans are desperate to make the crossing and their only concerns are not the dangers of crossing but the risk of being intercepted and sent back to face prison and beatings by Libyan authorities.”

Fr Arcebuche was addressing a Mediterranean-wide conference in Trapani, Sicily, for Caritas managers, which was also attended by delegates from Caritas Malta. The Philippino priest who over the years has established a positive rapport with the Libyan government, explained that the tough stand adopted by the EU to close its borders for African migrants who are running away from strife in their countries “are being left with no other option but to remain in Libya.”

He said that migrants “fear harsh punishments,” and are “extremely disappointed in Europe for shutting the doors of hope in their face.”

A task-force made up of eight doctors and 20 nurses are tirelessly visiting hundreds of migrants who arrive in Libya through borders with neighbouring states, while also revealing that many are starting to shift towards Egypt. “Egypt appears to become a new hub for migration flows as thousands of migrants are moving towards the Arab border in a bid to move on Eastwards rather than Europethat has closed its doors,” Fr. Arcebuche said.

But matters in Libya are difficult for many, but also positive for others who have managed to turn around the situation by exploiting the boom in the North-African country following the lifting of UN sanctions. Fr. Arcebuche said that many migrants remain in detention in squallid conditions, with volunteers reporting on severe beatings and systematic rapes. He urged for a crackdown on human traffickers that are earning millions of dollars off the sufferings of migrants as they cross the Sahara.

“Its so treacherous, deadly and yet they exploit them…taking all they have, leaving them without any food or water, as long as they pay, and pay…” he said. According to Fr. Arcebuche, those who manage to get into Libyaare the lucky ones, because “hundreds of migrants are actually dying in the Sahara.”

He referred to the recent news about the closure of UNHCR’s offices in Tripoli, explaining that it appears to be an issue related to permits. While auguring that UNHCR will restart its operations in Libya, Fr. Arcebuche appealed to all European governments to uphold their nations values of solidarity and to think of humane policies to give a future to strife-ridden humans.