Rising Hate Speech and Attacks on Aid Facilities Deepen Libya’s Migrant Crisis

Rising Hate Speech and Attacks on Aid Facilities Deepen Libya’s Migrant Crisis
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Libya has witnessed a rise in tensions surrounding migration issues, with demonstrations against what some protesters describe as the “resettlement of migrants” and attacks targeting humanitarian organizations serving displaced communities.

In recent months, protests have been held outside offices of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Tripoli. An IOM humanitarian services center was also stormed in September, disrupting its operations.

Libya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that attacks against international organizations had been referred to the Attorney General’s Office, stressing that these institutions and their employees are protected under the law.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has rejected claims that the United Nations is implementing a program to “resettle” migrants or refugees in Libya. It said UN agencies’ work focuses on humanitarian assistance, protection, and solutions for people fleeing conflict and persecution.

According to International Organization for Migration data cited in the report, Libya hosted approximately 944,000 migrants as of March 2026, while the UNHCR has registered more than 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers in the country.

Human rights organizations have warned that migration debates in Libya are increasingly accompanied by misinformation, inflammatory language, arrests and deportations, particularly affecting migrants and refugees from sub-Saharan Africa.

They cautioned that restricting humanitarian operations could limit access to healthcare, legal support, protection services and voluntary return programs, potentially forcing vulnerable people toward more dangerous migration routes and increasing risks of exploitation, violence and human trafficking.