Libya

Flash update on the forced eviction and mass arrest in Tarik Al-Matar internally displaced settlement - 10 August 2018

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  • On 9 August, the Tawergha Council met in Tripoli with the Abusaleim militia to discuss the imminent threat of eviction and mass arrest of 80 displaced (IDP) persons(including children and elderly persons) living in Tarik Al-Matar settlement. The militia insisted that the IDPs leave the settlement by 10 August 2018, 12:00 pm and threatened to demolish the settlement and arrest its inhabitants.

  • Following the above mentioned meeting, the United Nations community undertook advocacy efforts with Libyan authorities at different levels with a view to find a peaceful resolution to the situation and ensure the protection of civilians.

  • According to the IDPs, on 10 August at 3:00 am, the militia raided the settlement with 3 bulldozers and 8 military vehicles. The militia started shooting in the air and raided several houses. Reportedly, they started beating civilians inside makeshift houses and destroying their belongings.

  • On 10 August at 10:00 am, the Protection Sector, UNHCR and OCHA carried out a rapid assessment to the settlement.

  • According to the IDPs community, the militia was violent with settlement inhabitants. They insulted them and described them as slaves. Several women and young girls mentioned that some militia members threatened to “rape them” if they did not leave the settlement.

  • The militia warned Tarik Al-Matar residents not to relocate to other settlements in Abuselim area, and ordered them to move to Janzour area or outside Tripoli.

  • At 6:00 pm, several IDP families set fire to the belongings that they could not carry along when leaving Tarik At-Matar settlement.

  • At 6:40 pm, a big number of military vehicles raided the settlement and evicted the remaining families, preventing them from collecting their belongings.

  • The entire population of the settlement was forcedly displaced and headed to various areas in which they have relatives or acquaintances. These areas are mainly Tarhona, Bani Walid, Benghazi, Al-Dawa Al-Eslamyah settlements. Moreover, 14 families headed to Falah 1 and Falah 2 IDP settlements.

  • Eighty members of the IDP community, including children and elderly, have been released today at 9pm;

  • While the majority of the evicted IDPs have found alternative shelters, several families are reported to be in the open area in the Al-Dawa Al-Eslamyah settlement.

  • The Protection Sector members are trying to identify the most vulnerable persons and coordinate appropriate response;

For more information =, contact protection sector coordinator, Yasin Abbas, abbasy@unhcr.org

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