In a significant humanitarian endeavor, Italy and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) joined forces to facilitate the evacuation of 119 refugees from Libya to Rome. The operation, carried out on May 9, saw a diverse group of individuals, including men, women, and children hailing from Eritrea, Egypt, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan, arriving at Rome’s Fiumicino airport.
This coordinated effort was made possible through a tripartite agreement involving Italy’s Ministry of Interior, UNHCR, and a coalition of Italian religious, cultural, and political entities. The agreement outlines a commitment to provide vital international protection to those displaced by conflict and violence in Libya, with provisions for the evacuation of up to 1,500 refugees and vulnerable individuals over the next three years.
The selection process, overseen by UNHCR, prioritized individuals facing precarious situations in Libya, including victims of trafficking, survivors of violence and torture, and those in urgent need of medical attention. These evacuations represent a lifeline for those stranded in Libya, offering them hope and the prospect of a safer future.
Since 2017, Italy has been actively involved in similar humanitarian corridors, with approximately 1,390 refugees and asylum seekers already resettled from Libya. Upon their arrival in Rome in Italy, the evacuees will be transferred to designated shelters and integration centers under the auspices of Italy’s System for Shelter and Integration (SAI).
This latest evacuation underscores the growing global demand for resettlement solutions, as highlighted by the UNHCR’s projections for 2024. The agency estimates that over 2.4 million refugees worldwide will require relocation, marking a 36% increase compared to figures recorded in 2022. As the humanitarian crisis continues to unfold, collaborative initiatives such as this serve as a beacon of hope for those in desperate need of assistance and protection.