Written answers

Thursday, 21 September 2017

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Humanitarian Aid

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on conditions experienced by refugees in Libya; the steps being made by the EU to ensure that their co-operation with Libyan authorities does not infringe on the human rights of refugees and those seeking asylum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39704/17]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I strongly condemn all human rights violations and abuses against refugees and migrants, both in Libya and along the Central Mediterranean Route. I am aware of reports of appalling conditions currently faced by migrants and refugees in Libya. The security situation in Libya is fragile, which exacerbates the situation for migrants on the ground. The government has only partial control of the territory, which limits the capacity of the international community to ensure accountability for these alleged abuses. Migration issues are principally discussed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council. However, EU efforts to address the external aspects of migration were discussed at the June 2017 Foreign Affairs Council. At that meeting, Ireland expressed deep concern at the conditions experienced by migrants in detention centres in Libya, and emphasised the importance of addressing the root causes and humanitarian aspects of the migration crisis. EU Foreign Ministers adopted Council Conclusions on Libya in July 2017, which urge the Libyan authorities to improve humanitarian access to and conditions in migrant detention centres, as well as to look for alternatives to detention.

The EU has a number of initiatives which provide assistance and protection to migrants, refugees and host communities in Libya, in particular inside detention centres. The EU also provides training (including in international humanitarian law, human rights and gender issues) and other support to enhance the border management capacities of the Libyan authorities. The EU also supports the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), to ensure that there are adequate reception facilities for migrants. The EU has mobilised €162 million on migration-related projects for Libya under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) and a further €20 million from other budget lines. These programmes are being implemented by a number of partners, including international agencies such as the UNHCR and UNICEF.

A step-change in improving the situation of migrants in Libya requires political stability and a return of security, through the formation of a functioning government and a return to order throughout the country. Through the EU, Ireland both supports UN mediation and regional efforts in pursuit of stabilisation in Libya.

The only long-term solution to the migration crisis is to improve conditions in countries of transit and origin. The fight to reduce poverty, which is one of the main drivers of large irregular migratory flows, remains firmly at the core of Ireland’s aid programme, which has a focus on ending extreme poverty, hunger and under-nutrition.

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