By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 27 August 2017:
Ten thousand hygiene and first-aid kits for the needs of returned migrants have been given to the coast guard and the town of Zuwara by the Italian government. They have received half each.
Rather than being flown in, the kits were transferred from an Italian navy boat to a Libyan coast guard vessel just outside Libya’s territorial waters in an apparently politically-motivated gesture to underline Italy’s respect for Libyan sovereignty. They were then taken to the port, handed back to the Italians and then formally handed over to the Libyans at a ceremony at the Italian embassy in Tripoli.
According to the Italian foreign ministry, authorities in Libya such as Zuwara, had specifically requested the supplies to give to migrants intercepted at sea and brought back to the mainland.
“With this donation, the Italian Cooperation service has met the appeal launched by Libyan authorities; a gesture that confirms our Country’s humanitarian commitment at the international level”, said Italian foreign minister Angelino Alfano.
