Albania: another EU border where people are exposed to inhumane conditions

Following the announcement that Italy has started transferring people rescued at sea to the two centres it had built in Albania, MSF is concerned about the potential impact of this development on the well-being and access to rights of people rescued at sea.

Italy’s latest strategy to offshore its responsibilities for people seeking safety and protection is likely to result in further harm and violation of human rights. This move will prevent survivors from accessing adequate asylum procedures and vulnerability assessments, which is in contravention of Italy’s obligations under international and European law.

The disembarkation of rescued people, who are deemed not to be vulnerable, in Albania raises important human rights concerns, particularly right to liberty, access to protection and adequate asylum procedures, as well as more practical issues of identification of vulnerable people and living conditions in reception centres in Albania.

"We know that it's impossible to adequately assess people's vulnerabilities while on a ship at sea, which requires resources that are only available on land," says Juan Matias Gil, MSF search and rescue representative.

“MSF teams working in detention centres in Europe and beyond have observed a significant impact on people's mental health resulting from the lack of freedom of movement. Prolonged and arbitrary detention continues to have severe consequences on migrants and asylum seekers who are detained.” adds Gil. "People in search of safety and protection continue to be exposed to inhumane conditions at EU borders, with very limited access to information, appropriate services and protection."