The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), commended the Italian Interior Ministry’s decision to extend the humanitarian corridor from Libya to Italy.
In a statement, it explained that the decision aims to “provide opportunities for vulnerable individuals facing immediate threats in the Libyan context.”
Last week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) expressed concern for 1,500 evacuees, urging collaborative efforts for their well-being.
The UNHCR, working with international partners, said it will support the evacuation of vulnerable individuals, emphasizing the need for collaboration in addressing humanitarian challenges.
The statement highlighted the significance of international cooperation, to ensure the safety and protection of asylum seekers in Libya and other affected regions.
The UNHCR called for increased support for humanitarian evacuation efforts and mechanisms, for safe pathways for refugees.
UNHCR stressed the importance of sharing responsibilities to alleviate the burden on host nations, emphasizing the need for a collective response.
The High Commissioner’s Office urged countries to contribute to the global response, by providing support for humanitarian evacuation efforts.
Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Antonio Tajani said there are “challenges of managing dialogue with Libyans in migration crisis, due to ongoing departure operations from its coasts towards Italian waters.”
He stated that the memorandum of understanding signed with Tunisia is “progressing well, and there has been a reduction in the departure of migrants towards Italy.”
Tajani made these comments on Tuesday, during a hearing session before the parliamentary committee overseeing the implementation of the Schengen Agreement, supervising Europol activities, and immigration affairs.
He noted obstacles with Libya regarding halting departure operations. “We have worked to enhance the capacity of Libyan authorities to intervene and rescue at sea, also benefiting from the European support program,” he said.
Tajani pointed out that since 2017, €103 million Euros have been allocated to Libya in cooperation with the IOM and UNHCR.