Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Eritrea (Agenzia Fides) - “Help us to get the Eritrean refugees out of Libya. They are just people who want to live in peace” Bishop Giovanni Innocenzo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Tripoli in Libya tells Fides, making a new appeal for the estimated 2,000 Eritrean refugees who are in Tripoli (see Fides 28/02/2011).
Bishop Martinelli says on the status of the group of 54 Eritreans who will be welcomed by Italy: “The 54 Eritrean refugees with papers in order will depart in a week, or so I've been assured by the Italian authorities. These 54 are lucky to have the documents which allow them to leave, but all the others? I do not know if Italy could make an extra effort to welcome yet another hundred Eritreans and then perhaps distribute them around Europe.”
The Apostolic Vicar adds that “the 2,000 Eritrean refugees in Tripoli are living in homes of Libyan families, who accept them despite the difficulties. As a Church we are trying to pay rents. But there are problems with health. In particular, there are mothers with very small children who need milk and medical care. There is a religious sister that is handling these issues.”
“I hope that public awareness and sensitivity is open to the problems of these people who have no point of reference apart from the Church. I hope that other countries besides Italy, take these people's problem to heart. They can not stay in Libya because the situation is very precarious. They have not been threatened, but the problem is that there is no office open to obtain identity documents. The UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) has closed its office in Tripoli. The situation is shameful for these people who have no document certifying their identity. But where are their human rights? How can we declare that we respect human rights when we then trample on them with our 'civility'. I understand that we can not accommodate everyone who wants to come to Europe, but at least we could accept those most affected by the adversity,” said Bishop Martinelli.
As regards the situation of the city, Bishop Martinelli states that “Tripoli is calm. Outside the capital the situation is different, however. Here life is almost back to normal: different services are open, such as the post office and banks, where people go to pick up the 500 dinars promised by the Government.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 2/3/2011)
