The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law and international human rights standards and to avoid any action that may endanger human life. We continue to monitor the abuse of migrants and refugees in Libya and the inhumane conditions in detention centres. The UK supported the mandate for the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya to asses human rights abuses, including violations in detention centres. We continue to urge the interim Government of National Unity to take steps to end the exploitation and abuse of migrants and to implement a better functioning system that respects human rights. We support the UN's call for detention centres across Libya to be closed, and call on all parties to engage with the UN and the humanitarian community so that all migrants and refugees can be evacuated safely in accordance with international human rights law.

Tackling irregular migration and organised immigration crime remains an HMG priority. The British High Commission in-country regularly engages the Government of Malta on these issues. During his February 2023 visit, the Foreign Secretary raised migration with the Maltese Home Affairs Minister, and signed our Bilateral Cooperation Framework which included a commitment to restarting our UK-Malta Migration Dialogue. The High Commission has raised this specific case at senior level in the Home Affairs Ministry who advised that 'following multiple verifications of reported position through multiple searches, no boat was sighted in the reported position. Maltese authorities have no jurisdiction over any autonomous actions conducted in International Waters.'

The UK notes the abuse of migrants and refugees in Libya and the inhumane conditions in detention centres. The Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya is assessing human rights abuses and violations in detention centres. The UK co-sponsored the renewal of the Fact Finding Mission's mandate in July. We continue to urge the interim Government of National Unity to take steps to end the exploitation and abuse of migrants and to implement a better functioning system that respects human rights. We support the UN's call for detention centres across Libya to be closed, and call on all parties to engage with the UN and the humanitarian community so that all migrants and refugees can be evacuated safely in accordance with international human rights law.

The UK notes the abuse of migrants and refugees in Libya and the inhumane conditions in detention centres. The Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya is assessing human rights abuses and violations in detention centres. The UK co-sponsored the renewal of the Fact Finding Mission's mandate in July. We continue to urge the interim Government of National Unity to take steps to end the exploitation and abuse of migrants and to implement a better functioning system that respects human rights. We support the UN's call for detention centres across Libya to be closed, and call on all parties to engage with the UN and the humanitarian community so that all migrants and refugees can be evacuated safely in accordance with international human rights law.

We call on all parties to engage with the UN and the humanitarian community so that all migrants and refugees can be evacuated safely in accordance with international human rights law.

The UK has repeatedly raised its concerns with the Libyan authorities about the treatment of migrants and continues to press for a better functioning migration system that respects human rights.

We support the UN's call for detention centres across Libya to be closed, and call on all parties to engage with the UN and the humanitarian community so that all migrants and refugees can be evacuated safely in accordance with international human rights law.

The UK fully supports the ceasefire brokered by the UN in October 2020, has consistently called for its implementation, and is closely monitoring the situation. The UK, jointly with partners, recently urged Libyan political leaders to take all necessary measures to accelerate the implementation of the ceasefire, prioritising the opening of the Coastal Road between Abu Grein and Sirte. The UK continues to press all external actors to withdraw their foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya, as required by the ceasefire agreement and to abide by the UN arms embargo. There is no military solution to the challenges that Libya faces.

The UK supports the comprehensive ceasefire brokered by the UN in October 2020, and welcomes the recent commitment shown by Libyans to engage constructively in the UN-led political process. The UN has a central role to role to play in supporting implementation of the ceasefire, including the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries, a key step towards a sustainable political settlement for all Libyans.

We note the UNHCR's position set out in its September report "UNHCR position on the designations of Libya as a safe third country and as a place of disembarkation following rescue at sea". We also note the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) position on this issue, set out in recent IOM communications.

We are aware of reports of foreign fighters being transferred from Syria to engage in armed conflict in Libya - on both sides of the conflict.

The UK is clear that external involvement in the Libyan conflict, including the use of mercenaries and foreign fighters, is undermining UN efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire and restart political dialogue. We have expressed our concern to the Turkish Government, as we have to all other external actors whose activity continues to fuel the conflict.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the conditions faced by migrants and refugees in Libyan detention centres. We continue to urge the Libyan authorities to pursue alternatives to detention and implement a better functioning migration system that respects human rights. On 18 September, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that more than 2400 refugees and migrants were held in these centres.

The UK has not provided any direct funding to detention centres in Libya. These centres are the responsibility of the Libyan authorities. Any UK assistance in detention centres has been limited to official centres to improve humanitarian conditions, such as improving water, sanitation and hygiene conditions and providing non-food items and emergency food distribution. No funding has been provided to their wider operation, day-to-day operations or management. This humanitarian assistance is part of our wider 'whole of-route' approach to protecting migrants and refugees who are travelling along the Central Mediterranean Route, which also includes work to crack down on people smuggling, support to assisted voluntary returns and intensive work to end the conflict in Libya.

The UK is supportive of UNHCR's work to evacuate vulnerable migrants through the Emergency Transit Mechanisms (ETMs). The UK works closely with UNHCR to provide support to vulnerable refugees in Libya through the FCDO Safety, Support and Solutions Phase II (SSSII) Programme and through the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF). UK officials are regularly in contact with UNHCR on delivery of both programmes.

Through our contribution to the EUTF, the UK supports UNHCR indirectly to conduct life-saving evacuations of targeted groups of extremely vulnerable people who have been subject to serious violations of their human rights.

EU training support to the Libyan Coastguard and Navy (LCGN) was provided through EU naval Operation Sophia, to which the UK made a voluntary contribution of €595,000 on 12 May 2017. No contributions were made by the UK to EU training of the LCGN after that date. LCGN training was funded out of voluntary contributions from Member States and we estimate the total amount to be approximately €3 million. The operation formally closed on 31 March 2020. It was succeeded by EU Operation IRINI, to which the UK has not contributed.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the conditions faced by migrants and refugees in Libyan detention centres. We continue to urge the Libyan authorities to pursue alternatives to detention and implement a better functioning migration system that respects human rights. On 18 September, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that more than 2400 refugees and migrants were held in these centres.

The UK has not provided any direct funding to detention centres in Libya. These centres are the responsibility of the Libyan authorities. Any UK assistance in detention centres has been limited to official centres to improve humanitarian conditions, such as improving water, sanitation and hygiene conditions and providing non-food items and emergency food distribution. No funding has been provided to their wider operation, day-to-day operations or management. This humanitarian assistance is part of our wider 'whole of-route' approach to protecting migrants and refugees who are travelling along the Central Mediterranean Route, which also includes work to crack down on people smuggling, support to assisted voluntary returns and intensive work to end the conflict in Libya.

We remain deeply concerned by the situation in Libya and we welcome all efforts which support the UN-led peace process. We have been clear that we support an inclusive political settlement for Libya. We welcome the engagement of the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army in the UN-led 5+5 military talks. It is essential that both sides engage fully with this process. The UK is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and we continue to work closely with international partners towards peace in Libya. We continue to call on all parties to de-escalate, commit to a lasting ceasefire and return to UN-led political talks which is the only means of achieving the peace and stability that the Libyan people crave.

The UK is playing an active role in international diplomatic efforts to promote a ceasefire, humanitarian access and a return to a UN-led process in Libya. As 'penholder' on Libya at the UN Security Council, we tabled UN Security Council 2510 which demands an end to foreign military interference in Libya. Most recently, at the 8 July UN Security Council meeting, the Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa reiterated that external backers must stop sending arms to Libya, adhere to the Berlin conference commitments made in January, and support the parties to achieve a ceasefire and reach an inclusive political solution. The UK has also continued to urge all Libyan parties and the key international players to engage fully with the UN-led political process, including the 5+5 military dialogue convened in Geneva.

The UK remains concerned about the violent conflict in Libya, the impact this has on the humanitarian situation and implications for COVID-19 response. The UK is supporting the COVID-response in Libya, including through support for online information dissemination; supporting Social Peace Partnerships in over 12 municipalities to deliver awareness-raising campaigns, mobilise production of face masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), and delivery of food to vulnerable families; and supporting reporting and analysis on the COVID-19 situation.

We continue to work closely with WHO and the humanitarian community in Libya to ensure that international funding and expertise are effectively deployed during the COVID-19 outbreak.

We welcome efforts to address the humanitarian situation in Libya. The UK remains deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Libya and by the potential for COVID-19 to have a devastating impact. We urge all parties to the conflict to de-escalate and engage with the UN and the humanitarian community to reduce the impact on the population and to allow an effective response to the shared threat of COVID-19. The UK continues to support humanitarian response in Libya, including in the healthcare sector.

We continue to work closely with international partners towards peace in Yemen, Libya, Sudan and South Sudan, amongst other countries in conflict.

We fully support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and the UN Special Envoy's call for all parties to engage in urgent political talks and de-escalate the conflict in Yemen. Now that Saudi Arabia have extended their unilateral ceasefire it is more important than ever that all parties seize this opportunity for progress in Yemen. A permanent ceasefire and co-operation with the UN-led political process is the best defence we have against a potentially devastating outbreak of COVID-19.

We are also deeply concerned by the continuing fighting in Libya. All the signs are that, despite calls for a humanitarian truce, hostilities are continuing on all sides. UK leadership helped secure UN Security Council Resolution 2510, which demands full compliance with the UN arms embargo and an end to foreign military interference in Libya. We continue to urge all parties to agree a ceasefire and return to UN-led political talks, which is the only means of achieving the peace and stability that most Libyans crave.

We welcome recent progress made in both Sudan and South Sudan towards resolving their long-running conflicts. Through our membership of the Troika, we have engaged their governments and international partners to support their respective peace processes. At the UN Security Council on 28 April, the UK urged both governments to continue to focus on building sustainable peace. In South Sudan, conflict between the parties to the September 2018 Peace Agreement has reduced. In February this year, the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity marked a significant step forward in implementing the deal, bringing opposition leaders into the government. Although implementation of the Peace Agreement has slowed since the COVID-19 outbreak, we continue to urge all sides to ensure momentum is maintained. The Minister for Africa reiterated this point with 1st Vice President Machar on 29 April.

On Sudan, the UK supports Prime Minister Hamdok's commitment to secure a sustainable peace agreement to end conflicts in the county. We welcome initial progress in peace negotiations and agreement of a cessation of hostilities. We continued to urge all sides to engage constructively and swiftly to reach a comprehensive and inclusive peace agreement; at the UN Security Council on 24 April we urged all Sudanese stakeholders to remain fully committed in the efforts to achieve lasting peace.