Mizdah massacre refers to the murder of 30 migrants in Mizdah in Southwest Libya. 11 migrants were also injured in the massacre by human traffickers.[1] 26 of the migrants were from Bangladesh and four from various African countries.[2][3]
| Mizdah massacre | |
|---|---|
| Location | Mizdah, Libya |
| Date | May 27, 2020 |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Weapons | Guns |
| Deaths | 30 (26 Bangladeshi and 4 African) |
| Injured | 1 |
| Perpetrators | Human Traffickers |
Incident
editLibya has become a transit country for migrants seeking to enter Europe. 654 Bangladeshis illegally entered Europe through Libya from January to April 2020, according European Frontex agency. Migrants pay 10,000 euros to smugglers in Libya to reach Europe.[4] On 27 May 2020, 30 migrants were shot and killed by human traffickers in Mizdah. 26 of the migrants were from Bangladesh and four from African countries.[5] 36 Bangladeshi migrants were held hostage in the town of Mizdah for ransom by the human traffickers.[6] The 26 Bangladeshis killed in the massacre were buried in Mizdah. The injured migrants received treatment at a hospital in Tripoli. According to the Government of National Accord, the migrants were killed by relatives of a human trafficker, who had been killed during an altercation with migrants after the trafficker demanded more money.[7]
One Bangladeshi migrant, who survived the massacre, reported paying brokers in Bangladesh. The broker accompanied the migrant to Nepal, from there to Dubai, then from Dubai to Egypt, and then handed them over to Libyan traffickers at the Egypt-Libya border. The migrants were held in Mizdah and tortured for ransom from their family back in Bangladesh. The traffickers demanded 12,000 dollars from the family of migrants.[8]
Reaction
editThe European Union has condemned the killing and reiterated its commitment towards the fight against human traffickers.[9] Bangladesh has called for a quick investigation of the massacre.[10]
Medecins Sans Frontieres called for the evacuation of all migrants from Libya, describing the country as unsafe.[11]
References
edit- ^ "IOM calls for an immediate investigation into "Mizdah's Massacre"". libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "UN shock at Libya migrant slaughter - Vatican News". vaticannews.va. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "26 Bangladeshi migrants killed in Libya attack". thedailystar.net. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Twenty-six Bangladeshi migrants killed in Mizdah". asianews.it. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "26 Bangladeshis Killed In Mizdah". The Independent. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Before the killings, Bangladeshis were taken hostage on their way to Tripoli". Dhaka Tribune. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "1 still in critical condition, 26 buried". New Age. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "'Please help me, I want to go home'". The Daily Star. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "EU condemns killing of 30 immigrants in Libya, urges for swift justice". libyaobserver.ly. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Killing of 26 Bangladeshis in Libya: Dhaka for quick probe, punishment of killers". The Daily Star. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ "Libya: Dozens of migrants massacred in revenge killing". The National. Retrieved 1 June 2020.