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Pope appeals for evacuation of refugees in Libya camps

April 28, 2019 at 2:21 pm

Pope Francis greets people during his visit at the St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rabat, Morocco on March 31, 2019 [Jalal Morchidi / Anadolu Agency]

Pope Francis called on Sunday for the evacuation of refugees held in detention camps in Libya as fighting there escalates, reported Reuters.

Speaking at the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Francis said the already grave conditions of those in the camps had worsened due to the conflict under way.

“I make an appeal that especially the women, children and sick can be evacuated as soon as possible through humanitarian corridors,” he said.

Last week the United Nations refugee agency evacuated 325 African refugees from a detention centre in southern Tripoli following escalating violence.

On Saturday air strikes hit the Libyan capital as eastern forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar pursued a three-week campaign to take Tripoli.

Pope Francis also called for prayers for those who had died or suffered serious damage in the recent floods in South Africa.

Read: Detention centre opened but migrants too frightened to leave as war reaches Tripoli