EU Migrant Rescue Program for Libya Faces Risks
November 02, 2016
Associated Press
Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino talks during a press conference at the foreign press association, in Rome, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016. The head of the Operation Sophia said Wednesday the training program expects to see Libyan forces take control “in the spring of next year” of rescue operations in their territorial waters, where about 3,000 migrants die annually. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A European Union task force that's training the Libyan coast guard to intercept migrant traffickers acknowledges there will be safety risks.
The head of Operation Sophia said Wednesday the training program expects to see Libyan forces take control "in the spring of next year" of rescue operations in their territorial waters, where about 3,000 migrants die annually.
Rear Adm. Enrico Credendino added, however, that with the country in turmoil, it's difficult to ensure rescues will be carried out safely and according to international law, and that migrants brought back to Libya can be cared for properly.
The program has come under scrutiny amid reports that Libyan naval vessels opened fire on migrant and charity boats. Also, questions remain on how Libya can manage migrants returned to its shores.
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2:20 p.m.
Belgium's immigration minister, Theo Francken, is refusing to grant humanitarian visas to a family in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo despite being fined 4,000 euros ($4,438) a day for defying an appeal tribunal.
A lawyer for the family, Olivier Stein, told The Associated Press Wednesday that the tribunal ruled three times that visas should be granted to the two adults with children aged 8 and 5.
Francken has been visited by a bailiff directed by the tribunal, demanding 1,000 euros per person for each day that visas are not delivered. The tally so far is more than 30,000 euros.
On Tuesday, Francken told state broadcaster RTBF: "We're going to use all possible legal means to fight this affair. This is going too far."
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9:20 a.m.
French authorities have begun busing underage migrants out of Calais to processing centers around France, amid tensions around the closure of Calais' vast migrant camp.
Three buses carried unaccompanied a group of boys, mainly teenagers, out of the camp Wednesday morning.
French authorities transferred more than 5,000 adult migrants out of Calais last week, but the fate of its 1,500 unaccompanied children remained unclear. Migrants from the Mideast and Africa converged on the jungle camp in hopes of crossing the English Channel to Britain.
President Francois Hollande said this week that the children would be transferred within days to "dedicated centers" where British officials can study whether they have the right to U.K. asylum. Hollande said the others would be put under the care of French child welfare services.
Associated Press
Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino talks during a press conference at the foreign press association, in Rome, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016. The head of the Operation Sophia said Wednesday the training program expects to see Libyan forces take control “in the spring of next year” of rescue operations in their territorial waters, where about 3,000 migrants die annually. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
A European Union task force that's training the Libyan coast guard to intercept migrant traffickers acknowledges there will be safety risks.
The head of Operation Sophia said Wednesday the training program expects to see Libyan forces take control "in the spring of next year" of rescue operations in their territorial waters, where about 3,000 migrants die annually.
Rear Adm. Enrico Credendino added, however, that with the country in turmoil, it's difficult to ensure rescues will be carried out safely and according to international law, and that migrants brought back to Libya can be cared for properly.
The program has come under scrutiny amid reports that Libyan naval vessels opened fire on migrant and charity boats. Also, questions remain on how Libya can manage migrants returned to its shores.
___
2:20 p.m.
Belgium's immigration minister, Theo Francken, is refusing to grant humanitarian visas to a family in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo despite being fined 4,000 euros ($4,438) a day for defying an appeal tribunal.
A lawyer for the family, Olivier Stein, told The Associated Press Wednesday that the tribunal ruled three times that visas should be granted to the two adults with children aged 8 and 5.
Francken has been visited by a bailiff directed by the tribunal, demanding 1,000 euros per person for each day that visas are not delivered. The tally so far is more than 30,000 euros.
On Tuesday, Francken told state broadcaster RTBF: "We're going to use all possible legal means to fight this affair. This is going too far."
___
9:20 a.m.
French authorities have begun busing underage migrants out of Calais to processing centers around France, amid tensions around the closure of Calais' vast migrant camp.
Three buses carried unaccompanied a group of boys, mainly teenagers, out of the camp Wednesday morning.
French authorities transferred more than 5,000 adult migrants out of Calais last week, but the fate of its 1,500 unaccompanied children remained unclear. Migrants from the Mideast and Africa converged on the jungle camp in hopes of crossing the English Channel to Britain.
President Francois Hollande said this week that the children would be transferred within days to "dedicated centers" where British officials can study whether they have the right to U.K. asylum. Hollande said the others would be put under the care of French child welfare services.
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