Libya has agreed to a plan proposed the African-European Summit in Ivory Coast that will see thousands of illegal immigrants in the country evacuated and repatriated to their home countries.
The UNHCR welcomed the plan and explained that Libyan authorities had decided to set up a transit and departure facility in Tripoli for people in need of international protection.
"This initiative, which is supported by the Italian government, will facilitate the transfer of thousands of vulnerable refugees to third countries." The UNHCR wrote on Wednesday.
UNHCR Representative to Libya, Roberto Mignone, expressed hope that thousands of the most vulnerable refugees currently in Libya will benefit from this forward-looking initiative, adding that the main objective is to speed up the process of securing solutions in third countries, particularly for unaccompanied and separated children and women at risk.
The plan also indicates that there would be other solutions included such as resettlement, family reunification, evacuation to UNHCR-run emergency facilities in other countries, or voluntary return, as appropriate.
This new initiative has come after a wave of criticism for the international community, the European Union and the African Union for providing and contributing so little to the fight against the dilemma of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya after failing to sail on rickety boats to European shores.
