UN to Israel: Don’t proceed with forced relocation of African asylum seekers

The office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has appealed to the Israeli government to not forcibly send African refugees or asylum seekers to sub-Saharan Africa.

UNHCR said the appeal came after some 80 cases were identified in which people relocated by Israel risked their lives by taking dangerous onward journeys to Europe.

“Feeling they had no other choice, they traveled many hundreds of kilometres through conflict zones in South Sudan, Sudan and Libya after being relocated by Israel,” said William Spindler, the spokesperson for UNHCR.

Spindler said along the way “they suffered abuse, torture and extortion before risking their lives once again by crossing the Mediterranean to Italy”.

He noted that UNHCR staff interviewed them in Rome between November 2015 and December 2017 in reception centres and informal settlements, adding that all were adult males, some with family members still in Israel, who had entered via the Sinai.

“In every case, they reported torture, mistreatment and extortion before reaching Israel,” he said, adding that some said others travelling with them had died en route to Libya.

The majority maintained that they had been transferred from Israel to a country in Africa and provided with 3,500 dollars.

“However, the situation on arrival was different to what most had expected – and with little further support provided beyond accommodation on the first night. They reported feeling unsafe, as they were known to have money,” he said.

UNHCR said it was seriously concerned over Israel’s plans announced on January 1 to forcibly relocate Eritreans and Sudanese to countries in Africa or have them face indefinite detention.

He said official statements that the plans might eventually target families and those with pending asylum claims, or that asylum seekers might be taken to the airport in handcuffs, were particularly alarming.

“At a time when UNHCR and partners in the international community are engaged in emergency evacuations from Libya, forced relocation to countries that do not offer effective protection and the onward movement of these people to Libya and Europe is particularly worrisome,” Spindler said.

According to UNHCR, there are some 27,000 Eritreans and 7,700 Sudanese in Israel, however, since 2009, when Israel took over refugee status determination from UNHCR, only 10 Eritreans and one Sudanese have been recognised as refugees.

While 200 Sudanese from Darfur were granted humanitarian status in Israel along with an announcement that 300 more will follow, Israel has not received any Eritreans or Sudanese since May 2016, the UN refugee agency said.

“UNHCR stands ready to work with Israel to find alternative solutions for the protection needs of asylum seekers, in line with international standards,” Spindler added.