On 25 March, Government of National Unity (GNU) Minister of Interior (MoI) Emad Trabelsi met with the UN Deputy SRSG for Humanitarian Affairs Aeneas Chuma as well as representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNHCR, and UNICEF to discuss migration. According to the MoI, the illegal immigration file and the security, economic and social burdens it creates for the state of Libya were discussed, with Trabelsi reviewing the MoI’s efforts to tackle illegal immigration and emphasizing the need to promote voluntary deportation programmes for non-regulated immigrants to their countries, or resettlement in third countries.
According to UNSMIL, Chuma highlighted the importance of supporting the Government of Libya and humanitarian organizations on migration management in line with human rights principles and obligations. He expressed concerns about recent developments entailing restrictions on humanitarian organizations working on migration and refugee issues and urged the government to resolve concerns through dialogue and to ensure that organizations are allowed to continue their work in safety and under the provisions of Libyan law.