Doctors Without Borders: The European Union funds the Libyan Coast Guard to return migrants to Libya at any cost
Doctors Without Borders organization confirmed that the Libyan Coast Guard, funded by the European Union, lacks the capabilities to search and rescue migrants in the central Mediterranean, and is exposing the lives of hundreds of them to danger, and forcing them to return to Libya at any cost.
The organization explained in its own report that the Libyan Coast Guard regularly obstructs the organization’s rescue operations for migrants, noting that its teams monitored two serious incidents on March 15 and 16, in which the Libyan Coast Guard was involved in intentionally endangering the lives of hundreds.
The organization called on the European Union and its member states to immediately suspend financial and material support to the Libyan Coast Guard, and to stop deliberately fueling the forced return of people to Libya, noting that they monitored violent Libyan Coast Guard interventions taking place in international waters, specifically in the Maltese search and rescue area, and despite this happening in the waters. International search and rescue area in Malta.
It continued by saying, “Although we offered the Libyan Coast Guard assistance to rescue people and transport them to a safe place, it refused to cooperate, and more than 100 people were forcibly returned to Libya. It also obstructed another patrol ship belonging to the Libyan Coast Guard, which was donated by the Italian government, by obstructing private rescue operations.” We built for about 146 people who were in danger in international waters.”
It continued, saying, “The Libyan Coast Guard seriously prevented our teams from completing the rescue operation for approximately two hours, endangering the lives of everyone on board, as the Libyan Coast Guard attempted to forcibly board the MSF inflatable rescue boat while threatening our staff.” “Directly retaliate before eventually leaving the area and allowing MSF to complete the rescue operation.”
