Churches address refugee flight from Libyan chaos

The World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches
and the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe have expressed
concern over the humanitarian situation in Libya after reports that 250
migrants fleeing the chaos were missing after their boat sank off the
Italian coast.

In a joint statement released shortly after the
April 6 tragedy, the ecumenical groups praised governments and aid
agencies giving assistance but said the response needed widening "to
provide aid and protection to refugees, migrant workers and other people
at risk, and to enhance efforts to find peaceful and just solutions to
the crisis in Libya."

Specific needs cited include protection and
assistance for those who cannot return to their homes and keeping
borders open for those fleeing from conflict, the church bodies said.