(17 July 10 - RV) Over 200 Eritrean asylum seekers abandoned without documents in
Libya have launched a desperate plea for help from the international community. The
group of men were pushed back to Libya by the Italian navy when they attempted to
cross the Mediterranean. Libyan authorities then moved them Al-Biraq Prison in the
province of Sabha, after they refused a "volunteer" expatriation scheme, where the
men say they suffered torture and abuse. The refugees have since been released
but have no food, water, or documents to allow freedom of movement and say they face
imminent deportation to Eritrea where they may be arrested, tortured or risk their
lives. We spoke to one of the refugees about their plight who asked to remain anonymous
for security reasons.