BACK FROM THE FIELD: Aloys Vimard - Libya's coastguard funded by Eurpoean governments (ENG)

Libya’s coastguard is funded by European governments
Since the beginning of 2018, it is estimated that more than 1,800 people have perished in the Mediterranean
Sea and over 14,000 people have been
intercepted and taken back to Libya

MSF247433

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BACK FROM THE FIELD: Aloys Vimard - Libya's coastguard funded by Eurpoean governments (FR)

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Back from the field: Aloys Vimard - Libya’s coastguard is funded by European governments

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Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF247433

Date taken / Date Recorded 12/10/2018 12:00 AM

Country France, Libya

Commissioning section MSF-FRANCE

Photographer / videographer / producer Mohammad Ghannam

Usage Rights (MSF) MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available yes

Editor's rating ★★★★★ (C)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m41s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 260.30 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist Script

The aim now is to conceal the tragedy taking place in the Mediterranean

Aloys Vimard - MSF project coordinator

Until June this year, Italy’s maritime authorities were responsible for coordinating rescue operations in the zone. But at the end of June, this responsibility was handed over to Libya, which is now regarded as the competent authority. This is a major shift in the situation.

Libya’s coastguard is funded by European governments

It means that just like the Italian centre, Libya’s coordination centre has information, but it does nothing to communicate it to ships in the area. Every possible effort is made to send survivors back to Libya, and when you know the conditions in which they’re returned in, it’s horrifying.

If a boat’s in distress in the area and there’s a ship near-by able to come to its rescue faster than the Libyan coastguard, the information isn’t passed on. The priority is to do whatever it takes to get people taken back to Libya. The toll in human lives is enormous.

It is estimated that more than 1,800 people have perished in the Mediterranean
since the beginning of 2018

After two rescue operations in August there were 141 people on board the Aquarius. 75% of them were from Somalia or Eritrea. According to the United Nations, in 2017, 92% of Eritreans and Somalis were entitled to international protection. This means that these are people who should be, and are, entitled to international protection. They put themselves in danger because their only option is to take to the sea, even if it’s at the risk of their lives.

Migrants taken back to Libya are held captive in inhumane detention centres

During my assignment I went to a Libyan detention centre. Hundreds of people were packed like merchandise into vast hangars, with very little access to drinking water and food. It’s appalling; it’s inhumane. This is the problem with landing people in Libya. Because they’re refugees, asylum seekers or migrants, they’re held, hopeless, in these huge hangars.

We hear about the numbers. But we see human beings in the Mediterranean, families who have their own reasons for taking to the sea and risking their lives. They do it because they’re determined. They tell us they have no other choice.

Since the beginning of 2018,
over 14,000 people have been
intercepted and taken back to Libya