TRIPOLI: Libyan military officials said Monday they apprehended hundreds of migrants traversing the country’s vast desert hoping to ultimately cross the Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of a better life in Europe.
The 444 Brigade, a powerful militia group that operates under the auspices of the Libyan army, said in a statement that its patrolling commanders detained more than 300 migrants and referred them to authorities.
The group in a post on Facebook condemned smuggling and human trafficking and said its patrols would continue efforts to block smuggling routes. It posted satellite images of the desert and pictures of what appeared to be migrants sitting in rows in front of armed and masked militants.
The apprehensions come as Libya remains a primary point of departure for men, women and children from the Middle East and Africa aiming to reach Europe. Many are escaping war or poverty and many employ smugglers to help them negotiate treacherous deserts and sea routes. Roughly 38,000 people have arrived in Italy and Malta from Libya this year, according to UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency.
The overcrowded boats used by migrants and smugglers are known to routinely capsize and a key priority for European leaders has been to encourage North African countries to prevent migrants from reaching the sea. But unlike in Morocco and Tunisia — where tens of thousands of migrants also attempt to pass through en route to the southern shores of Europe — fighting between rival governments in Libya has added additional challenges to migration management partnerships.
Migrant apprehensions are rarely reported in Libya, though the country’s state news service LANA reported more than 2,000 arrests in July.
The oil-rich country plunged into turmoil after a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi. Since then, the country has been divided between dueling governments in the east and west, each backed by militias and foreign powers. Human traffickers have for years benefited from the political chaos.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk in July said migrants in the country had been subjected to torture, forced labor and starvation while being detained.
Militia detains 300 migrants in the desert in Libya’s effort to contain sea crossings
https://arab.news/whbtj
Militia detains 300 migrants in the desert in Libya’s effort to contain sea crossings
- The group in a post on Facebook condemned smuggling and human trafficking and said its patrols would continue efforts to block smuggling routes
- The apprehensions come as Libya remains a primary point of departure for men, women and children from the Middle East and Africa aiming to reach Europe
Syria begins mine clearance at UNESCO-listed Ruwayha site in Idlib
- Teams are conducting field surveys and clearing minefields to support restoration efforts and provide a safe environment for visitors
DUBAI: Engineering teams have begun removing mines and unexploded ordnance from the archaeological site of Ruwayha in southern Idlib, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday.
The operation is part of a broader plan by the Idlib Directorate of Antiquities to protect and preserve historical sites across the Jabal Al-Zawiya region, which includes more than ten locations listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Ruwayha is part of the UNESCO-listed “Ancient Villages of Northern Syria,” a collection of well-preserved Byzantine-era settlements dating back to the 4th and 6th centuries.
Hassan Al-Ismail, director of antiquities in Idlib, said the project aims to clear war remnants, document damage caused during the conflict, and allow local communities to safely access the sites.
“The primary goal is to remove mines and war remnants from archaeological sites and enable the local community to return, while revitalizing domestic tourism and reopening the country to visitors,” Al-Ismail told SANA.
The work is being carried out in cooperation with the Heritage for Peace organization and under the supervision of the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, with coordination from the Ministry of Defense, which deployed specialized engineering units.
