Dear Prime Minister Stephen Harper:

In the name of protecting civilians in Libya, you have committed Canada, alongside the United States of America and several members of the European Union, to a war against the forces of Muammar Gaddafi. This conflict has already displaced more than 750,000 civilians who have fled violence.

Despite difficult conditions, Tunisia and Egypt have already received more than 630,000 people. However, the European countries are using the fight against illegal immigration to deny their responsibilities to allow these victims of war to enter Europe.

By engaging in this war, you have also agreed to bear its consequences and, thus, to take all necessary steps to limit its impact on civilians. This is both a legal obligation under the international conventions to which Canada is a signatory, as well as a moral responsibility.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders urgently requests that you respect the rights of all civilians fleeing the conflict in Libya by advocating against their deportation from Europe's territorial waters and lands, back to a war zone. Please urge your European counterparts to properly receive these families in Europe and offer them access to asylum procedures when they so request.

These rights are not currently being respected. Thousands of people, victims of war, are paying the price of the European states' inconsistent policy. Several hundred men, women and children trying to reach Europe – or who were driven out by Libyan authorities who see this as an opportunity to create disruption – died at sea when their boat sank. Thousands more have landed along the Italian coast in the last few weeks. As our teams in Lampedusa have observed, the reception has been inadequate given the needs.

You must now turn words into action regarding the protection of civilians in Libya. You share responsibility for the fate of these victims of war and for ensuring that their rights are respected. This responsibility must be at the heart of your concerns.

Yours sincerely,

 

Dr. Bruce Lampard, President,

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders Canada

Marilyn McHarg, Executive Director,

Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders Canada

Related News:

 MSF condemns any initiative to send boat people back to Libya - 24.06.2011 10:35

 MSF expands aid to war-torn country - 10.06.2011 12:19

 MSF evacuates from Zintan - 27.05.2011 11:44

 Refugees fleeing Libya: No safe place to go - 27.05.2011 10:27

 Europe must accept the boat people fleeing Libya - 18.05.2011 21:56