Tripoli: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has expressed concerns over the increasing movement of Sudanese refugees from Chad to Libya, warning of a potential rise in migration flows from North Africa toward Europe.
According to Libyan News Agency, Grandi highlighted this trend in an interview with the ‘Financial Times’, emphasizing the urgent need for increased support for host countries. He pointed out that Sudanese refugees are already traversing from Chad to Libya, which is a significant route for those seeking to reach Europe. Grandi stressed the importance of bolstering support to enable these populations to remain in their current locations, which could help mitigate some of the challenges faced.
Grandi noted the growing movement of thousands of Sudanese refugees heading north to Libya and subsequently to Europe, instead of staying in Sudan or nearby nations such as Chad. He described the UNHCR’s budget constraints as severe, indicating that they are compelling many migrant
s to move toward Europe. He urged European nations to enhance their support for existing refugee reception facilities in Africa, rather than channeling resources into developing new systems.
Furthermore, Grandi criticized the cuts imposed by donors, which he claims are diminishing the agency’s capacity to manage migration flows effectively. He warned that neglecting the situation in African countries could be a significant strategic error.