Skip to main content
News - 
Global

IOM, UNHCR Build Capacity of Libyan Partners to Save Lives of Migrants at Sea

Libya - IOM Tripoli and UNHCR have organized a second technical workshop and coordination meeting for Libyan partners on saving lives of migrants at sea. The workshop, which took place from 9-10 November in Tunis, follows an earlier workshop held in late July.

The meetings, funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO), aim to improve the response capacities of Libyan authorities involved in operations related to the rescue of refugees and migrants off the Libyan coast.

This week’s workshop included 26 participants from the Libyan Coast Guard and Port Security Department, the Directorate for Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM), the Libyan Red Crescent, and two representatives from the Libyan Ministry of Health.

The meeting provided the opportunity to share updates on the most recent developments regarding the increasing number of refugees and migrants rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard, amid deteriorating weather conditions. This is often due to unseaworthy vessels used by refugees and migrants, which capsize near the Libyan coastline.

The main objective of the second workshop was to further enhance coordination and cooperation among all actors involved in and responding to rescue at sea operations, as well as boost Libya’s capacity to save lives at sea and improve the humanitarian response to those rescued.

The workshops also aim to operationalize a Technical Working and Contact Group, once its Terms of Reference are agreed upon. This would then draw up Standard Operating Procedures for the rescue and disembarkation of refugees and migrants found in distress off the Libyan coast. The group would also identify training and equipment gaps, which could then be filled with the expertise and support of international organizations or individual member states.

IOM Libya Chief of Mission Othman Belbeisi noted: “There is an urgent need for better information management and information sharing related to rescue operations handled by the Libyan Coast Guard, particularly regarding the necessary coordination between them and the DCIM. The Technical Working Group will ensure better coordination among all actors involved.”

IOM and UNHCR are planning another meeting as part of the same ECHO-funded project early next year. Specialized training sessions may also be organized with the support of implementing partners in Libya to respond to the most pressing needs in terms of national response capacity.

For further information, please contact Othman Belbeisi at IOM Libya, Tel +216 29 600389, Email: obelbeisi@iom.int

Share this page via:

Regions
Office type
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Asia and the Pacific
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas (The)
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic (the)
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros (the)
Congo (the)
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czechia
Democratic Republic of the Congo (the)
Denmark
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic (the)
East and Horn of Africa
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Europe and Central Asia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia (the)
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Global Office in Brussels
Global Office in Washington
Greece
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
IOM Office at the United Nations
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iraq
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic (the)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Manila Administrative Centre
Marshall Islands (the)
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia (Federated States of)
Middle East and North Africa
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
New Zealand
Niger (the)
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Norway
Pakistan
Palau
Panama
Panama Administrative Centre
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines (the)
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova (the)
Romania
Russian Federation (the)
Rwanda
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Subregional Office in Brussels
Subregional Office in Pretoria
Sudan (the)
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic (the)
Tajikistan
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
United Republic of Tanzania (the)
UNSC Resolution 1244-Administered Kosovo
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Viet Nam
West and Central Africa
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe