Rescue Eritreans kidnapped by ISIS in Libya

The Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights (EMDHR) expresses its outrage over the 3 Eritreans brutally murdered by ISIS last month in Libya and the 86 Eritrean migrants kidnapped by ISIS in Libya over the last week and are at great risk of being killed. The EMDHR condemns such barbaric crimes committed against innocent and defenceless refugees. There are also reports that many Eritrean refugees are detained by Libyan authorities and other militant groups. Furthermore, on Friday 5 June 2015, the Telegraph (UK) reported that 14 Eritreans have been kidnapped in Shagarab Refugee camp in East Sudan. Our thoughts at this sad time goes to the families of all those victims and those refugees in dire situations.

Eritrean refugees are forced to leave their country due to the human rights violations perpetrated by the dictatorial government in Eritrea. The UN report that came out on Monday 8 June 2015, has said that the human rights violations taking place in Eritrea constitute crimes against humanity. In light of this damming report by the United Nations and the distressing situations of Eritrean migrants, we call upon the international community to:

• Help in the rescue of those Eritrean migrants that have been kidnapped by ISIS in Libya and to ensure emergency assistance to all those Eritrean migrants held in detention in Libya;

• Ensure the protection (including resettlement) of Eritrean refugees in the following refugee camps: Shagarab refugee camp in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Yemen where their situation is most precarious.;

• Provide humanitarian assistance to all Eritrean refugees in dire conditions in refugee camps, detentions, and other settings;

• Work with Eritrean organisations outside Eritrea in reaching out and assisting Eritreans in distress;

• Ensure that the human rights of Eritreans is upheld in Eritrea and demand for the citizens to enjoy rule of law, freedoms, and liberties in their own country.

Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights (EMDHR) Advocacy Office 12 June 2015