Burns, lashes, electric shocks and skinning – torture scenes that are usually seen in horror movies, are actually the reality for refugees trying to reach Europe through Libya. While some of them face harsh realities of detention centers, others get auctioned off as slaves.
As the situation shows no signs of improvement, humanitarian organizations have accused both the European Union and Libyan authorities of failing to aid those trapped in the camps.
Tens of thousands of refugees pour into Libya each year to make the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean Sea, in which thousands die. Usually, they flee war-torn Sub-Saharan African nations.
As part of a deal between the E.U. and Libya in February, Libyan coastguards work to stop vessels crossing to Europe, to reduce the migrant flow.
“The E.U. cannot continue to ignore the harsh consequences of its latest attempts to stop people crossing the Central Mediterranean. Shutting down people’s chances to escape Libya means they are trapped in a hell where they face the risk of the most horrific abuse,” Claire Seaward, Director of the Europe Migration Campaign at Oxfam told The Globe Post.
Upon their return, refugees find themselves forced into horrific camps run by the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA). They face torture and other abuses from camp officials before being repatriated.
“I think the agreement between Italy and Libya is worse than the one Europe signed with Turkey, because in Turkey refugee camps were created. Whereas in Libya, concentration camps were created,” Italian doctor Pietro Bartolosaid in an interview with Euro News.
“There migrants are tortured, abused, women are raped, inconceivable violence is carried out. We’ve treated some cases of migrants who’d been skinned,” he added.
A CNN investigation completed earlier this month revealed that in some cases, migrants get sold off by unscrupulous smugglers, after being turned away by Libya’s coastguard, for as little as $400.