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Refugees and asylum seekers in detention centers
UNHCR follows very closely the situation of refugees and asylum seekers detained in South Libya. On 17 May, UNHCR was in Sabha to provide plastic sheets, disinfectant and hygiene kits due to the bad hygiene conditions in the detention centre. A follow-up mission was conducted on 23 May to identify unaccompanied minors detained in Sabah detention centre and to negotiate for the release of vulnerable cases. At the time of the visit, 1200 persons were detained including 650 Eritreans and 250 Somalis. Among them were 47 women, 8 pregnant, 2 children and an unidentified number of unaccompanied minors. Two Syrians were also in the detention centre. UNHCR is now advocating for the release of the vulnerable cases including women and children. Regular visits have been conducted also in other detention centres. On 19 May, UNHCR was in Al Khums detention centre to assess medical needs and deliver hygiene material. 213 individuals including 25 women were in the centre. The majority of them had been recently intercepted at sea by the Libyan coast guards and brought to the centre. Overall, as of 30 May, UNHCR registered 911 persons of concern in the following detention facilities: Sabha, Brak Shatti, Surman, Al Khums, Zliten, Sabrata, Gheran and Tawaysha. In another positive development, on 12 May, UNHCR released 6 vulnerable cases from Ajdabiya detention centre. In East Libya, UNHCR and CESVI provided medical assistance to persons of concern in detention. With LibAid, UNHCR is also planning to organise a distribution of relief items to detainees. Finally, in May in Benghazi LRC Camp UNHCR registered 162 Eritreans and 3 Somali.