The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and IOM offices in
Libya have signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement to address
the many pressing needs of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers
who are currently in reception and detention centres in Libya.

Under the agreement signed on 27 July in Tripoli, IOM and UNHCR
will work with the relevant Libyan authorities and civil society to
provide humanitarian assistance to concerned persons in reception
and detention centres.

Joint UNHCR and IOM teams will be set up to conduct interviews
in the centres to identify refugees, asylum seekers and migrants,
as well as vulnerable persons with specific needs, such as victims
of trafficking and gender-based violence, unaccompanied minors
and/or single women.

Refugees and asylum seekers identified through the screening
process will be referred to UNHCR for refugee status determination
processing.

IOM and UNHCR will jointly determine those among migrants and
rejected asylum seekers who are willing to return home and will
assist them to return in safety and dignity.

Both agencies will also work together to secure funding to
ensure the voluntary return of migrants and failed asylum seekers
is sustainable.

The agreement further specifies that IOM and UNHCR will work as
a team in the resettlement of refugees from Libya to third
countries.

UNHCR and IOM will develop, coordinate and participate in joint
trainings, workshops and seminars for government offices, NGOs and
civil society, among others.

For more information, please contact:

Laurence Hart

IOM Tripoli

Tel: +218 91 383 25 96

E-mail: "mailto:lhart@iom.int">lhart@iom.int