Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 18 June (HL16009), whether they will seek to divert refugees and migrants away from detention centres in Libya.

The detention centres in Libya are the responsibility of the Libyan authorities. The UK is clear that civilians in areas affected by the current conflict, including refugees and migrants, must be immediately evacuated to safety. We continue to press the Libyan authorities to pursue alternatives to detention and implement a better functioning migration system that respects human rights.

Through our contribution to the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the UK has supported the EU and Africa Union joint commitment to significantly increase voluntary returns of those who want to leave Libya, as agreed at the EU-AU Summit in November 2017. Since then, more than 57,000 people have been supported to return home, with most of these returns from Libya and Niger.

Our contribution also supports the UNHCR-led evacuation of those in need of international protection from Libya to Niger and other countries (over 3,600 people to date), and their ongoing resettlement subsequent to their evacuation. Following UNHCR’s urgent appeal for resettlement places, the UK has committed to participate in the resettlement of the most vulnerable refugees who have been evacuated by UNHCR from Libya to Niger. This will include unaccompanied minors.