Pope Francis called on countries not to return migrants to unsafe countries like Libya, where he claimed people suffer from inhumane conditions like those in concentration camps reports Reuters.

The pontiff’s appeal was delivered during a Sunday ‘blessing’ as EU leaders are trying to reconcile their differences on how to deal with immigrants.

“We have to put an end to the return of migrants to countries that are not secure,” he noted, adding that there are “thousands of migrants, refugees and others who need protection in Libya”.

Priority should be given to sea rescue he said adding that orderly disembarkation from their sea vessels is ideal. He also said that countries should provide alternatives to jail, and regulated paths to immigration and asylum.

The pope called on the international community to “keep their promises” to find lasting solutions to handle migration influxes in both Libya the Mediterranean area in general.

“Many of these men, women and children (in Libya) are subjected to inhumane violence,” he claimed.

“How much those who are returned suffer?! There are real lagers there,” ‘Lagers’ is a German word that is used in Italy when referring to concentration camps.

“I never forget you. I hear your cries,” he added.

Earlier this month, the U.N. human rights office called for an inquiry into what it claimed was “unnecessary and disproportionate” force carried out by Libyan armed forces used to detain African migrants, killing some of those trying to escape.