Photo: Nigerian man subjected to horrific abuse in Libya

Dr Erna Rijnierse, onboard the Medecins San Frontieres (Doctors Without Border) search and rescue vessel MV Aquarius is pictured treating violence-related injuries on a Nigeria man. He was among the Europe-bound migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea last week.

According to the people interviewed by the MSF teams, men, women and, increasingly, unaccompanied children (some as young as 10 years old) transiting Libya are suffering abuse at the hands of smugglers, armed groups and private individuals.

The abuses reported include being subjected to violence (including sexual violence), arbitrary detention in inhumane conditions, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, financial exploitation and forced labour.