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
![Ocean Viking - Kubro, Rotation 2, Standby International Waters Ocean Viking - Kubro, Rotation 2, Standby International Waters](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/80t44842p52o833llsm6452qcdd65r00.jpg)
Ocean Viking survivors to disembark in Lampedusa six days after the first survivors were rescued at sea
![Message from Ocean Viking Message from Ocean Viking](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/8o1dj2r1x32052438y241ffi3do0o6g4.jpg)
Ocean Viking rescue survivors finally offered place of safety
![MSF medical activities on board MSF medical activities on board](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/20561753jffm381g1381a1uxy427nr11.jpg)
“He just kept running, despite the wound and the bleeding”
![Ocean Viking First Rescue - August 9 Ocean Viking First Rescue - August 9](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/1ir23v54l0706rk5550t6no5cg3p68iq.jpg)
On board the Ocean Viking: “We feel humbled by their courage”
![Ocean Viking First Rescue - August 9 Ocean Viking First Rescue - August 9](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/2r85o0d2gu4ip25kt640403c1p5xnjy0.jpg)
Place of safety needed for 356 people rescued in Central Mediterranean
![Aquarius__People leaving for Maltese boat Aquarius__People leaving for Maltese boat](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/1k7oy1et370r26dsf4qmj6vc8l10ftes.jpg)
Europe must act now to end preventable deaths in Libya and at sea
![Trapped in Moria Trapped in Moria](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/i8154o0471065hta38cl3f3714h5rl8h.jpg)
Libya shipwreck: “There are no words to describe their suffering”
![Airstrike Detention Center - Tajoura Airstrike Detention Center - Tajoura](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/2jd6egq52tc048t7r2v4vb7oluvx6228.jpg)
“A night in which our worst fears would come to pass”
![Press Conference SAR relauch, Paris Press Conference SAR relauch, Paris](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/pw44b4r272b8u104k7h4e272wy485274.jpg)