Tripoli - An interagency mission from IOM, UNHCR, and UNICEF visited Abu-Salim Centre in Tripoli as part of the UN Country Team plans to improve the humanitarian assistance and protection of migrants and refugees in Libya.

Director of the Centre, Mr Ramadan Rayes, accompanied the mission and explained that currently around 90 migrants and refugees are hosted in the centre including women and children.

“We are concerned about the situation of children detained in the centres. UNICEF will continue to advocate for having no migrant and refugee children detained in Libya,” said Ms Narine Aslanyan, UNICEF Deputy Representative.

“We thank the management of Abu Salim centre for receiving the mission and confirm UNHCR’s commitment to continue to advocate for the protection, provide humanitarian assistance and durable solutions for all refugee and asylum seekers in Libya,” said Ms Nisreen Rubaian, UNHCR Senior Protection Officer.

“IOM stands ready to continue providing humanitarian assistance to all the migrants in Libya through supporting the consular services, voluntary return and reintegration, health care and provision of non-food items,” said Mr Antonio Salanga, IOM Senior Operations Officer.

IOM, UNHCR and UNICEF are providing humanitarian assistance to migrants and refugees in partnership with the International Medical Corps (IMC), Danish Refugee Council, Libya Red Crescent (LRC), Moltakana, STACO, the International Organization for Cooperation and Emergency Aid and other local and international non-governmental organisations.