People queue to board a boat from Libya to Eygpt. Reuters/Anis Mili, courtesy Trust.org - AlertNet
Updated 11 March 2011
Political protests and the following violent crackdown in Libya have caused nearly 250,000 people to flee, mainly into neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt. Both countries have a high number of incoming refugees and returning citizens on top of their own recent political upheavals. CARE strongly condemns the violence and calls for protection of civilians.
CARE has sent emergency teams to Tunisia and Egypt to conduct assessments on the border with Libya. We are coordinating with other agencies to determine how best we can meet the needs of people affected depending on how the situation evolves.
Libya
The situation in Libya remains serious. A large number of people have been affected by the violence. Currently the primary concern in Libya appears to be for medical assistance. Specific medical aid agencies are responding to this.
CARE will therefore focus on people leaving the country. Latest information indicates that there are high levels of risk for non-nationals attempting to enter the country even for humanitarian purposes. We will continue to monitor the situation closely in case the humanitarian situation deteriorates further.
Tunisia
Up to 130,000 people have fled Libya to Tunisia since 19 February, of various nationalities.
In coordination with the UN and other organisations, CARE has sent an assessment team to Tunisia to determine how best we can provide assistance.
Egypt
More than 100,000 people have crossed from Libya since 19 February. The majority of these people are Egyptians and have already travelled to other parts of the country.
Up to 3,000 non-Egyptians are stranded at the border. CARE has distributed hygiene kits with soap, sanitary pads and baby nappies, as well as food and milk, in these areas. CARE is ready to expand its response if needed, but for now Egyptian authorities are providing emergency assistance to refugees. CARE continues to operate its programs in education, governance, and women’s rights in Egypt, and to help communities to recover from the recent political unrest.
Niger
Roughly 2,200 people have so far crossed the border into Niger. CARE, which has ongoing programs in health, water and food security and extensive experience in emergency response, is preparing to help should they need assistance. Those who crossed the border came without any assets or resources. Most of those fleeing are migrant workers who are likely to head home fairly quickly.
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