ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report was prepared by Altai Consulting in partnership with IMPACT Initiatives (IMPACT), for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Libya. It was written in February 2017 by Marie-Cecile Darme and Tahar Benattia of Altai Consulting, with the support of Hind Kinani of Altai Consulting and IMPACT. Data collection in Libya was carried out by Istishari Research, Altai Consulting’s local partner, and managed by Karim Nabata and Omar Hunedy. Marie-Cecile Darme conducted fieldwork in Algeria and Niger, while IMPACT conducted fieldwork in Chad and Italy. We are grateful to UNHCR’s Libya office for its role in designing and framing this study, as well as the organisation’s offices in Algeria, Chad, Niger and Italy, and the International Organisation for Migration’s Libya mission for their valuable input and assistance. We are also indebted to the numerous migrants, refugees, government representatives, humanitarian workers, academic researchers and community members who shared their time and their views with us on the various themes that this study covers. Photographer Monder Haraga graciously provided the images on the front cover and section pages. All images in this report belong to Altai Consulting, unless otherwise stated. All maps were created by Altai Consulting and IMPACT Initiatives. IMPACT Initiatives (IMPACT) is a Geneva-based think- tank created in 2010. IMPACT assesses, monitors and evaluates aid programmes and makes capacity-building recommendations. Headquartered in Geneva, it has an established field presence in over 15 countries, where it operates through a team of full-time international experts as well as a roster of consultants. Altai Consulting is a specialised consulting firm that focuses on research, monitoring and evaluation in fragile states. Since launching in 2003, it has successfully completed more than 300 assignments in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia and today operates in more than 25 countries through a team of over 50 international staff and 500 national consultants. Altai’s public policy division maintains permanent regional offices and teams in Libya, Tunisia, Somalia, Somaliland, Puntland, South Sudan, Kenya, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Altai has developed significant expertise in studying migration, producing numerous research reports and providing strategic advisory guidance on migration for governments, international institutions and aid agencies such as IOM, UNHCR, International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the Department for International Development (DFID), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and Save the Children. Contact Details: IMPACT Initiatives: [email protected] Marie-Cecile Darme (Altai): [email protected] www.impact-initiatives.org www.altaiconsulting.com MIXED MIGRATION TRENDS IN LIBYA Changing Dynamics and Protection Challenges Please note: For the purposes of this report the expression “refugees and migrants” refers to all people on the move along the routes studied, including migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and other populations (such as victims of trafficking or unaccompanied and separated children), unless a distinction is otherwise made. This study does not include the situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs). When used separately, the term “refugees” encompasses all persons in need of international protection under UNHCR’s mandate. This includes refugees recognised as such following a refugee status determination procedure as well as asylum seekers. Altai Consulting and IMPACT Initiatives prepared this report for review by the United Nations High Commissioner Refugees (UNHCR). Opinions expressed in the report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the UNCHR. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AVRR Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration CAR Central African Republic CDC Community Development Centres (UNHCR-funded centres in Libya) CMR Central Mediterranean Route CSO Civil Society Organisation DCIM Department for Combating Illegal Immigration (Libyan institution) DDG Danish Demining Group DTM Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM data collection mechanism) DRC Danish Refugee Council ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EMR East Mediterranean Route EU European Union GBV Gender-Based Violence GITNOC Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (network of experts) GNA Government of National Accord 5 ICMPD International Centre for Migration Policy Development ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross IDI In-Depth Interview IDP Internally Displaced Person INGO International Non-Governmental Organisation IO International Organisation IOM International Organisation for Migration ISS Institute for Security Studies KII Key Informant Interview LCG Libyan Coast Guard MENA Middle East North Africa MSF Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) NFI Non-Food Item NGO Non-Governmental Organisation PoC Persons of Concern RMMS Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat RSD Refugee Status Determination UASC Unaccompanied and Separated Children UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNHCR United Nations Refugee Agency UNSMIL United Nations Support Mission in Libya VoT Victim of Trafficking WMR West Mediterranean Route 6 Migration Trends in Libya: Changing Dynamics and Protection Challenges TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements 2 Abbreviations and Acronyms 5 Table of Contents 7 Table of Figures 9 Foreword 11 Executive Summary 14 1. Introduction 25 1.1. Background 25 1.2. Objectives of the Research 26 1.3. Key Concepts and Definitions 27 2. Methodology 33 2.1. Approach 33 2.2. Secondary Research 34 2.3. Primary Data Collection in Libya 34 2.3.1. In Depth Interviews with Refugees and Migrants 34 2.3.2. Key Informant Interviews in Libya 36 2.4. Fact Finding Missions 38 2.4.1. Niger 38 7 2.4.2. Algeria 40 2.4.3 Chad 40 2.4.3. Italy 41 2.5. Analysis 42 2.6. Challenges and Limitations 42 2.6.1. Challenges 42 2.6.2. Limitations of the Research 43 3. Mixed Migration Trends on the Central Mediterranean Route 46 3.1. Overview 46 3.1.1. Routes to Europe 46 3.1.2. Types of Journeys on the CMR 48 3.1.3. Main Evolutions 49 3.2. Refugees and Migrants Passing Through Libya 52 3.2.1. Number and Nationalities of Refugees and Migrants in Libya 52 3.2.2. Refugees and Migrants Profiles 56 3.2.3. Causes and Intentions of Movement 62 3.2.4. Communicating 73 3.3. Smuggling 74 3.3.1. Smugglers Involved Along the Routes 74 3.3.2. Costs and Finances 83 3.4. Journey Conditions 88 3.4.1. Preparing for Departure 88 3.4.2. Logistics 89 3.5. Eastern Routes through Libya 91 3.5.1. Horn of Africa to Sudan 92 3.5.2. Travelling through Sudan 93 3.5.3. Route through Chad 93 3.5.4. Entering Libya through the South-eastern Border 95 3.5.5. Route through Egypt 96 3.6. Western Routes through Libya 97 3.6.1. Overview 97 3.6.2. Routes through Niger 99 3.6.3. Routes through Algeria 101 3.7. Northern Leg of the Journey and Departure to Europe 102 3.7.1. Northern Leg of the Journey 102 3.7.2. Departures From the Coast to Europe 104 4. Mixed Migration in the South of Libya 110 4.1. Mapping Refugee and Migrant Communities 110 4.1.1. Overview 110 4.1.2. Refugees and Migrants in Sebha Region 111 4.1.3. Refugees and Migrants in the Region of Kufra 115 4.1.4. Refugees and Migrants in the South West (Gatrun, Murzuq, Ubari, Ghat) 117 4.1.5. Refugees and Migrants in the Region of Tripoli 120 4.2. Protection Issues and Vulnerabilities 122 4.2.1. Risks and Vulnerabilities Associated with the Journey 122 4.2.2. Key Protection Concerns and Challenges upon Arrival in Southern Libya 125 4.2.3. Detention Centres 131 4.3. Supporting Refugees and Migrants 135 4.3.1. Support Received and Coping Mechanisms 135 4.3.2. Networks and Focal Points 138 4.3.3. Organisations Supporting Refugees and Migrants in the South 141 5. Conclusion and Recommendations 154 5.1. Conclusion 154 5.2. Recommendations for UNHCR and Other International Community Organisations Supporting Refugees and Migrants in Libya 156 6. Annex 160 6.1. Literature Review 160 6.2. Recoding Open-Ended Answers 164 8 Migration Trends in Libya: Changing Dynamics and Protection Challenges TABLE OF FIGURES TABLE OF FIGURES Figure 1: Overview of Libya and key cities mentioned to in the report ................................................. 12 Figure 2: Main Migration Routes to Europe .......................................................................................... 15 Figure 3: Main migration routes through Libya ..................................................................................... 18 Figure 4: Research modules ................................................................................................................ 33 Figure 5: In-depth interviews conducted with refugees and migrants in Libya ..................................... 35 Figure 6: Countries of origin of migrants interviewed ........................................................................... 35 Figure 7: Breakdown of refugees and migrants sample by age ........................................................... 36 Figure 8: Breakdown of sample by gender ........................................................................................... 36 Figure 9: Key informant interviews conducted in Libya ........................................................................ 37 Figure 10: Interviews conducted in Niger ............................................................................................