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In Pictures: Libya migrants languish in camps

Detained migrants complain of mistreatment and discrimination, while guards cite lack of resources.

There are approximately a dozen mobile shelters housing up to 300 prisoners at the Abu Sharda detention center for illegal migrants.

By Karim Haddad

Published On 20 May 2014

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At least 14 people died one week ago when a boat full of migrants capsized off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy. Only two days before that, more than 40 migrants drowned off the coast of Libya as they tried to reach Europe.

Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi three years ago, the number of migrants passing through Libya has risen sharply. Sub-Saharan Africans have long been sources of cheap labor and many of them use Libya as a jump off point to reach Europe.

Although they are not equipped to properly address the issue alone, the Libyan coastguard did capture nearly 500 illegal migrants over the course of three days in early April.

Usually, the detainees are sent to police stations for processing and examination. Men, women and children are then separated and sent to various detention centres around the country.

Al Jazeera visited one of those facilities near Gharyan, just over an hour’s drive from Tripoli. Some of the men said they had been there for over a year with little time outside their cells. Many complained of mistreatment and discrimination, an unfortunate but common problem facing sub-Saharan Africans in Libya.

One of the guards and the man responsible for running the camp told Al Jazeera that conditions are not what they should be because they are poorly resourced and short staffed. They blame the government and say they are doing the best they can under the circumstances.

The housing units are no more than 30 metres in length and 10 metres in width. Some are crowded with more than 40 people at a time.
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About 10 men at a time are free to walk around outside their cells. They help out with all things in the camp.
Some of the detainees say they have spent years moving from one jail to another.
The whole facility is unsanitary. The buildings and their immediate surroundings are infested with various insects and other parasites.
Many of the detainees suffer from poor health. Many complain of stomach and skin problems.
Most of the men are from East African nations such as Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan, while others come from places such as Ghana, Gambia, Cameroon and Chad.
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The prisoners at Abu Sharda say they are kept locked up for weeks on end. Camp guards justify this by citing security concerns and the possibility of escape.
The prisoners drink water and eat out of metal bowls. Water is kept right outside the bars in large containers.
Food is cooked by a former prisoner and served at least twice a day. Detainees are also given the occasional juice box.
Those with families say they were separated from their wives and children. Abu Sharda only holds male detainees; women and children are held at other facilities.
Despite occasional visits from international organisations like UNHCR, ICRC and HRW, conditions at the camp remain extremely poor.
Some of those being held at Abu Sharda were hoping to reach Europe or the US, but others were simply looking for work in Libya.
These prisoners are keen for the right people to know what they are going through in hopes that their situation might change.
The ultimate fate of the men in Abu Sharda is unknown. Camp officials told Al Jazeera that various agencies would eventually come and take custody of them.