Putting the Human Back into Humanitarian

The uprisings in Libya have unfolded not unlike that in other MENA (Middle Eastern North African) countries; unexpectedly and rapidly. Along the way there have been many unintended consequences not the least of which is the plight of the African migrant workers.

The case of African migrants has been complicated by the suspicion of being mercenaries from Sub-Saharan Africa hired by Muammar Gaddafi and his regime to attack anti-Gaddafi protestors. So while other nationals have been able to make their way to safety many Africans remain trapped inside various locations terrified of leaving lest they be seen and then attacked by locals who enact vigilante justice based on the assumption that they were brought to Libya to kill them. And even if they were to leave the question is where do they go?

Hein de Haas, a senior fellow with the International Migration Institute, writes in his blog (see here http://heindehaas.blogspot.com) "But why is nobody concerned about the plight of sub-Saharan African migrants in Libya ? As victims of racism and ruthless exploitation, they are Libya ‘s most vulnerable immigrant population, and their home country governments do not give them any support.”

It is with this in mind that the international community and thus Canada must play a key role in addressing the unfolding humanitarian crisis and in particular the plight of those identified as most vulnerable by international agencies. UNHCR, Amnesty International, The International Migration Institute, Human Rights Watch are among those who have clearly identified African Migrants as being under particular threat and largely unable to move without fear of being targeted for retribution. The International Convention on The Protection of The Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was adopted by the General Assembly resolution 45/158 of 18 December 1990 Part 3 Article 16 items 1-9 clearly set out the rights that are being denied to African migrants currently besieged in Libya .

Canada has donated 5 million dollars in aid to the effort in Libya the allocation of which has not been made clear. Canada has further stated that it will assist in any humanitarian intervention and seek to support existing efforts on the ground.

With this in mind we request the additional supports:

· Canada utilize its diplomatic and political capital to help facilitate the repatriation of all foreign nationals seeking return to return to their respective home countries (with a concerted effort made to Bangladesh and other African countries who have thus far resisted in assisting)

· Canada lead the call to work in partnership with the international community and the Libyan government and protestors to grant safe passage to those African migrants who are trapped inside various “safe houses.” This could mean calling for a day (or a couple days) of Amnesty that would allow international aid agencies to get into the country and facilitate the safe and speedy evacuation of those trapped inside

· Canada could fast track applications for those who are already in the process of being sponsored or considered for sponsorship. Canadians witnessed this most recently during the crisis resulting from the earthquake in Haiti in which the applications of Canadian adoptive parents of Haitian children, or family members were expedited due to the urgent nature of the crisis in Haiti . The case of African migrants classifies as urgent and since Canada already has boats and planes in waiting with the expressed purpose of serving a humanitarian mission; evacuating foreign nationals who are targets for death should fit into their immediate mandate

By acting on the above mentioned items with a sense of the required urgency needed to address this crisis Canada could take the lead in putting the word Human back into Humanitarian. In addition to being treated as a freakish sideshow of narratives without context the lives of Africans in Libya up have been relegated to being treated as pawns and tropes in a sinister game of life and death, a game they are favored to lose. As Canadians of conscience and citizens of the international community we ask that our country no longer stand on the sidelines allowing that to happen!

Article viewed at: Oye! Times at www.oyetimes.com