Almost all people who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea pass through Libya. Between January and mid-August 2021, the EU-funded Libyan Coastguard intercepted over 22,000 people at sea and returned them to Libya. This has resulted in an increase in the number of people arbitrarily detained in detention centres, often in violent, inhumane conditions.
MSF provides medical care and food and hygiene kits to people held in detention centres in the country’s northwest.
Migrants and refugees living outside detention centres are exposed to life-threatening risks, such as being held captive by trafficking networks in clandestine jails. Our teams provide healthcare to migrant communities outside of detention – including those who have escaped – in Tripoli and Bani Walid.
MSF also supports the Ministry of Health in its tuberculosis response; we provide technical support in Misrata and Tripoli, and provide diagnosis and treatment to patients in two facilities. We provide ante- and postnatal care to mostly Libyan women in Bani Walid.
![Q&A with Libya HoM, Beatrice Lau _ENG Q&A with Libya HoM, Beatrice Lau _ENG](https://img.msf.org/Doc_Prod/CMS2/a/7/3/6/MSB96600.jpg)
Libya Head of Mission, Beatrice Lau
Dire conditions for migrants and refugees in detention centres in Libya
Our returned Head of Mission Beatrice Lau describes the conditions for migrants and refugees in detention centers in Libya. MSF suspended activities in the detention centres in Tripoli in late June 2021, as a response to the level and rate of violence observed towards migrants and refugees held indefinitely in Libya’s detention centres. Despite this latest decision, efforts to intercept, forcibly return and arbitrarily detain men, women and children in detention centres in Libya are ongoing.
Our activities in 2022 in Libya
Data and information from the International Activity Report 2022.
222
222
€11.5 M
11.5M
2011
2011
![Libya IAR Map 2022 Libya IAR Map 2022](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/2x86b5qfixqch1a320l71sfh60ju2r4e.jpg)
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/bg-transparent.png)
49,900
49,9
4,070
4,07
340
34
![Detention Centres - Tripoli, Libya Detention Centres - Tripoli, Libya](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/5g74teb1cs7n3272l264wt2378fgy860.jpg)
Human Suffering: Inside Libya's migrant detention centres
![Detention Centres - Tripoli, Libya Detention Centres - Tripoli, Libya](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/7sdlfj6k8tli3wi2w8e044y642232184.jpg)
Arbitrary detention of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants must stop
![Libya: detention centres in Tripoli Libya: detention centres in Tripoli](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/9/c/7/c/MSF195130.jpg)
Providing assistance to migrants and refugees
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/placeholder.jpg)
MSF accuses Libyan coastguard of endangering people’s lives during Mediterranean rescue
![Libya: detention centres in Tripoli Libya: detention centres in Tripoli](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/c/6/5/8/MSF195129.jpg)
MSF continues to provide medical care to migrants and refugees detained in Tripoli
![From Misrata to Tripoli From Misrata to Tripoli](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/03bmcm8q7udcy8b1u27wy53f5f312285.jpg)
From Misrata to Tripoli, a first-hand account from Dr Tankred Stoebe
![Aquarius SAR: Winter conditions and high seas Aquarius SAR: Winter conditions and high seas](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/51d418533g4c3j7yhf3fbp4611sequrl.jpg)
MSF Response to European Council's "Malta Declaration" on Migration
![Migrants Detention Centers Libya 2016 Migrants Detention Centers Libya 2016](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/b4t54vy31it6ioc3yammynhecx357730.jpg)
MSF warns EU about inhumane approach to migration management
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/bg-transparent.png)
Now it is time to close down the route from Libya to Italy. We owe that to those who suffer, risk their lives as well as Italy and Europe.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/539335261398646784/ixECPqgQ_bigger.jpeg)