UNITED NATIONS, June 25 (UPI) -- Libya says the United Nations refugee agency can resume operations, three weeks after the country ordered the agency to stop operations and close its offices.
The agency will be able to re-start work, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Friday, but will restrict operations to its current caseload in Libya, a key transit point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
The Libyan government gave no reason for the earlier decision, but Libyan authorities recently accused UNHCR staff of serious misconduct, including accepting bribes and sexual favors in exchange for the granting of refugee status to immigrants, a U.N. release said.
A U.N. representative stressed the allegations remain unsubstantiated.
"UNHCR does take very seriously any accusation against any UNHCR staff member from whatever source," Adrian Edwards said. "We have a zero tolerance policy for misconduct. We have asked the Libyan government to substantiate these particular claims. If and when we receive these indications, we will be in a position to investigate through our normal procedures."
An estimated 9,000 refugees and 3,700 asylum-seekers are registered with UNHCR in Libya, the agency says, with the majority being either Palestinians, Iraqis, Sudanese, Somalis, Eritreans, Liberians or Ethiopians.
