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
![Rescue 2 - Rotation 54 Rescue 2 - Rotation 54](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/q773qp3rj3a46ob3c4b11f683qk05o36.jpg)
MSF rescue ship detained in Italy following threats by Libyan Coast Guard
![Rescue - Rotation 51 Rescue - Rotation 51](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/0717e1e3f72ht27u0wfoya580pr2yr14.jpg)
EU policies promote violence by denying safety and protection to refugees and migrants
![Militarised Polish-Belarus border Kozie Borki natural park Militarised Polish-Belarus border Kozie Borki natural park](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/82eo166tim47nsl5u0il7lfvx14mun43.jpg)
Death, despair and destitution: The human costs of the EU’s migration policies
![Rotation 17 - Testimony - Amadou Rotation 17 - Testimony - Amadou](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/l4yp24vuh7k8u2jl17f8u28yu7q02328.jpg)
MSF report on abuse in Abu Salim and Ain Zara detention centres in Libya
![Rescue September 25, 2017 Rescue September 25, 2017](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/5w8c8jab26eum03v73a4ud7cm7tj3l1q.jpg)
People are beaten, sexually abused and killed in Libyan detention centres
![Aftermath of deadly floods in Libya Aftermath of deadly floods in Libya](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/5i2a361ng7nu48dv3l543vd1adjb7p4y.jpg)
Mental health support needed after Storm Daniel destroys Derna
![Malnutrition emergency: mobile clinic in Ranobe Malnutrition emergency: mobile clinic in Ranobe](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/5ho2368h6558h5mp4aim37h0kpn68aa8.jpg)
MSF begins medical activities in Derna after Storm Daniel
![Malnutrition emergency: mobile clinic in Ranobe Malnutrition emergency: mobile clinic in Ranobe](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/5ho2368h6558h5mp4aim37h0kpn68aa8.jpg)
MSF to close medical activities in Tripoli
![Rotation 20 Rescue 1 Rotation 20 Rescue 1](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/5i0504b0do24p0twr803mvf37m0dcg8m.jpg)