Two United Nations agencies have voiced ‘deep concern’ for the safety of hundreds of migrants and refugees – including many children – held captive by smugglers or criminal gangs at an unknown location in Libya after videos showing their abuse was posted on Facebook.
The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) has confirmed that the videos are authentic.
According to the agency, short video clips have also been sent to families of those held captive, threatening that they will be killed if ransoms (ranging between $8,000-$10,0000) are not paid.
“Seeing a Facebook video of innocent migrants and refugees who have been abused and tortured is deeply concerning,” said Mohammed Abdiker, IOM Director of Operations and Emergencies.
“The cruelty of the human traffickers preying on vulnerable refugees and migrants in Libya does not seem to have a limit,” added Amin Awad, the Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), calling for their immediate release.
That migrants and refugees travelling to Libya from the Horn Africa, are particularly vulnerable in the Raybana area on the country’s southern border with Sudan, where many are frequently abducted.
The agency also drew attention to the increasing trend of abuse of digital and social media platforms by smugglers or criminal gangs and called on such firms to be more vigilant.
Some of the captives in the videos have been missing for up to six years, according to their families in Somalia, noted IOM.
Source PANA
