Around 30 international organisations have called on the European Union (EU) to suspend financial aid to Libya following the recent discovery of a mass grave in the country’s far southeast, on Tuesday.
The call to freeze EU funding comes after Libya’s chief prosecutor announced that the remains of 28 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa had been found near an “illegal” detention centre in the Kufra region. The discovery raises new concerns about human rights violations in a country that has become a major transit point for migrants trying to reach Europe.
In a joint statement, organisations including CCFD-Terre Solidaire, Human Rights Watch, Sea-Watch, Community Rights in Greece and the Egyptian Forum for Human Rights criticised EU funding, arguing that it had failed to improve conditions for those seeking safety.
Demand for Humanitarian Support and Safe Migration Routes
The signatories demanded that EU financial support be directed towards life-saving humanitarian interventions and the establishment of safe migration routes for those fleeing Libya.
They also pointed to the European Commission’s decision to review its funding agreements with Tunisia following revelations of human rights violations by Tunisian security forces. The groups demanded that the EU take a similar stance on Libya and ensure that financial assistance does not lead to further abuse.