The United Nations has condemned the storming of one of its humanitarian facilities in Tripoli, Libya, where migrants were receiving services, describing the incident as involving “deeply aggressive acts.”
The UN did not identify the specific agency involved. However, videos shared on social media on Monday appeared to show individuals forcing their way into the premises of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tripoli, damaging furniture and forcing occupants out of the facility.
“The United Nations in Libya strongly condemns the repeated incidents that occurred this morning on the premises of the service centre managed by one of the UN agencies in Tripoli,” the IOM said in a statement issued late Monday.
Although Libyan authorities have yet to publicly comment on the incident, the UN said it recognised that authorities had taken steps to respond to the situation.
According to the UN, authorities were working to “investigate the circumstances of the deeply aggressive acts against staff and the people accessing humanitarian services of the centre.”
The organisation, however, stressed that “such incidents must not be repeated.”
Tensions surrounding migration have intensified in Libya in recent months, particularly over allegations concerning plans to permanently settle migrants in the country.
Protesters have repeatedly gathered outside the headquarters of UN agencies, including the IOM and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), sometimes blocking access to the premises.
The protesters have called for the closure of the offices and the expulsion of their staff.
In response, the UN renewed its appeal “to rely on reliable and verified information when disseminating it in the public sphere, and it reaffirms its commitment to constructive cooperation and working closely with the Libyan authorities and local communities.”
Libya has faced prolonged political instability since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with the country remaining divided between rival administrations.
The instability has also enabled smugglers and human traffickers to expand clandestine networks used by migrants seeking to cross the Mediterranean Sea and reach Europe.
