The UN refugee agency announced Thursday the emergency evacuation of 164 refugees and asylum seekers from Libya to Rwanda overnight, continuing a humanitarian operation that has relocated nearly 3,000 vulnerable individuals since 2019. The transfer brings the total number evacuated under the program to 2,924, of whom 2,585 have been resettled in third countries, the UNHCR reported. AdvertisementEmergency Transit MechanismThe evacuations operate under a 2019 agreement between the UNHCR, the African Union, and Rwanda, establishing an Emergency Transit Mechanism in Gashora Sector, Bugesera District. The facility provides shelter, protection, and life-saving support while UNHCR assesses refugees for resettlement to third countries. The program offers a safe passage option for the most vulnerable, providing immediate protection and a pathway toward durable solutions through resettlement to participating countries.

Source: Libya Today February 26, 2026 13:12 UTC