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OHCHR / MEDITERRANEAN MIGRANTS RESCUES
STORY: OHCHR / MEDITERRANEAN MIGRANTS RESCUES
TRT: 2:33
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS
DATELINE: 08 MAY 2020 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
FILE
1. Exterior shot, UN Geneva
08 MAY 2020 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We are deeply concerned about recent reports of failure to assist and also coordinated pushbacks of migrant boats in the central Mediterranean, which continues to be one of the deadliest migration routes in the world. Reports of Maltese authorities requesting commercial ships to push boats with migrants and refugees in distress back to the high seas are of particular concern. We are also concerned that humanitarian search and rescue vessels, which usually patrol the central Mediterranean area, are being prevented from supporting migrants in distress, at a time when the numbers attempting to make the perilous journey from Libya to Europe has increased sharply. Following the immobilization of two humanitarian rescue ships Alan Kurdi and Aita Mari, there are currently no active humanitarian search and rescue vessels in the central Mediterranean. It has also been alleged that administrative regulations and measures are being used to impede the work of humanitarian NGOs including those operating on the boats. So, we call for restrictions on the work of these rescuers to be lifted immediately. Such measures are clearly putting lives at risk.”
FILE
3. Exterior shot, UN Geneva
08 MAY 2020 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“On 15 April, so around 3 weeks ago UNSMIL verified that a vessel containing 51 migrants and asylum seekers, including 8 women and 3 children, was returned to Libya on a private Maltese boat after being picked up within Maltese waters. And the migrants were sent to Takiq al-Sikka detention facility by the Libyan authorities. During their six days at sea, five people had died, and seven others went missing and are presumed drowned. “
FILE
5. Exterior shot, UN Geneva
08 MAY 2020 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Meanwhile, the Libyan Coast Guard is continuing to turn vessels back to its own shores, and place the intercepted migrants in arbitrary detention facilities where they face horrendous conditions has we have often spoken of in the past, including torture and ill-treatment, sexual violence, lack of health care and other human rights violations. And these overcrowded facilities are also, of course, at high risk of being over-run with COVID-19. So, we call for a moratorium on all interceptions and returns to Libya.”
FILE
7. Exterior shot, UN Geneva
The current public health crisis caused by COVID-19 disproportionately affects people and communities already in vulnerable and marginalised situations. Around the world, migrants can be particularly vulnerable to stigma and discrimination and can be excluded in law, policy and practice from access to rights, including in the context of the public health and recovery response to COVID-19.
Briefing journalists in Geneva on Friday (8 May) Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated: “Reports of Maltese authorities requesting commercial ships to push boats with migrants and refugees in distress back to the high seas are of particular concern.”
“We are also concerned that humanitarian search and rescue vessels, which usually patrol the central Mediterranean area, are being prevented from supporting migrants in distress, at a time when the numbers attempting to make the perilous journey from Libya to Europe has increased sharply,” said Colville.
There are currently no active humanitarian search and rescue vessels in the central Mediterranean, according to the OHCHR, following “the immobilization” of two humanitarian rescue ships Alan Kurdi and Aita Mari.
“It has also been alleged that administrative regulations and measures are being used to impede the work of humanitarian NGOs including those operating on the boats,” said Colville. “We call for restrictions on the work of these rescuers to be lifted immediately. Such measures are clearly putting lives at risk.”
On 9 April, both Italy and Malta have declared their ports unsafe for disembarkation due to COVID-19.
The OHCHR spokesperson reported that on 15 April, “a vessel containing 51 migrants and asylum seekers, including 8 women and 3 children, was returned to Libya on a private Maltese boat after being picked up within Maltese waters.”
The returned migrants were reportedly sent to Takiq al-Sikka detention facility by the Libyan authorities.
“During their six days at sea, five people had died, and seven others went missing and are presumed drowned,” Colville said.
He also said “meanwhile, the Libyan Coast Guard is continuing to turn vessels back to its own shores, and place the intercepted migrants in arbitrary detention facilities where they face horrendous conditions has we have often spoken of in the past, including torture and ill-treatment, sexual violence, lack of health care and other human rights violations. And these overcrowded facilities are also, of course, at high risk of being over-run with COVID-19. So, we call for a moratorium on all interceptions and returns to Libya.”
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