Exodus of Berbers to southern Tunisia interrupted by border clashes
Fighting for control of a crossing point on the Tunisia-Libya border halts the exodus of ethnic Berber civilians fleeing from Libya's Western Mountains.
RAS ADJIR, Tunisia, April 29 (UNHCR) - Fighting for control of a crossing point on the Tunisia-Libya border appears to have interrupted the exodus of civilians fleeing from Libya's Western Mountains.
In Geneva, spokesperson Melissa Fleming told journalists that UNHCR was "very concerned that people fleeing Libya could be caught in the crossfire as government and opposition forces battle for control in the border area."
Before the fighting at the Dehiba crossing intensified on Thursday, UNHCR staff saw long lines of vehicles carrying ethnic Berber families waiting to cross into southern Tunisia. Dehiba is located some 200 kilometres south of the main Tunisia-Libya border crossing at Ras Adjir.
UNHCR staff were unable to visit Dehiba on Friday because of the security situation, but local partners said the queues had disappeared and nobody was crossing the border.
In the past month, more than 30,000 people have fled the fighting in the Western Mountains and crossed into Tunisia at Dehiba. More than 3,100 people crossed the border on Wednesday alone, according to UNHCR staff.
The large number of recent arrivals is straining the limited resources in the area. Camps established to shelter the refugees are filled beyond capacity. UNHCR's camp in Remada, with space for 950 people, was sheltering some 2,000 on Thursday evening.
UNHCR is reinforcing the camp to a capacity of 5,000 people. Fortunately, the vast majority of people are still being hosted by the local community. UNHCR is working with the authorities to expand the capacity of existing camps and to support host families.
In cooperation with Islamic Relief, the World Food Programme and local partners, UNHCR is planning to distribute food and non-food packages to thousands of refugees and to the local communities receiving them. The majority of new arrivals are women, children and families. UNHCR is also moving emergency supplies to the Remada area, including portable warehouses, tents, mattresses and other aid items.
Meanwhile, Fleming in Geneva said UNHCR had received reports from the Somali community in Choucha camp, near the Ras Adjir border crossing, that three Somali refugees drowned off the coast of Libya Thursday morning after an Italy-bound boat carrying some 280 Africans capsized in high seas.
The three who died were part of a larger group of 20 people who had left Choucha camp for Libya some 10 days ago in order to board boats to Europe. "These deaths add to the hundreds of people who have drowned or are missing in the desperate attempt to reach the safety of Europe from Libya," Fleming noted.
4d70adcc9 4d67f6079 4d79e87b6Related news and stories
AU, EU and UN push for urgent action to address the pressing needs of migrants and refugees in Libya
Insecurity and COVID-19 fuel refugee mental health concerns in Libya
Repaired Benghazi home brings comfort after loss and displacement
Libya: Returning Home in Dignity
Refugee women scale Atlas mountain to tackle gender violence
Libya: First evacuation flight to Niger in over a year brings 172 asylum-seekers to safety
Your search for « dehiba » matched 34 results. Displaying page 3 of 4 pages.
-
Update No.19 on the humanitarian situation in Libya and the neighbouring countries
15 Apr 2011 ... ... Eritrea 12.0% The situation in the border area of Dehiba, 4 hours drive south of Ras Djir, is developing quickly. According to the Tunisian authority at Dehiba border point, 1,620 Libyans crossed into ...... -
Update No.20 on the humanitarian situation in Libya and the neighbouring countries
19 Apr 2011 ... ... of Dehiba, 4 hours drive south of Ras Djir, continues to develop quickly. According to Tunisian authorities, on 17 April, over 1,500 Libyans approached the customs authorities at the Dehiba border ...... -
Update No.24 on the humanitarian situation in Libya and the neighbouring countries
10 May 2011 ... ... The UN international staff remain abesent from Tripoli after its evacuation last week. TUNISIA South Tunisia/Dehiba: Almost 50,000 Libyans have officially crossed to Tunisia via the Dehiba border ...... -
Update No.21 on the humanitarian situation in Libya and the neighbouring countries
26 Apr 2011 ... ... for an entry stamp at the Tunisian side of the Dehiba border point. As the opposition forces now control the Libyan side of Dehiba border point, civilian vehicles can enter via the official route. ...... -
1 Family Without Shelter: Tunisians open doors to Libyan refugees
22 Jun 2011 ... the official border points at Ras Adjir and Dehiba. Many have since returned. Currently, some 1,500 Libyan refugees are living in camps managed by UNHCR and the UAE Red Crescent in Remada and Dehiba. ...... -
Update No.22 on the humanitarian situation in Libya and the neighbouring countries
28 Apr 2011 ... ... Most of them unofficially crossed through the mountain area and then asked for an entry stamp at the Tunisian side of the Dehiba border point. As the rebel forces now control the Libyan side of Dehiba ...... -
Update No.28 on the humanitarian situation in Libya and the neighbouring countries
10 Jun 2011 ... ... 752 728 0 2,000 4,000 IFRC UAE Shousha Remada Deheba Dehiba, Remada (Tataouine Governorate) Armed clashes are ongoing on the Libyan side of Dehiba border between Government and rebel forces, however, ...... -
Update No.26 on the humanitarian situation in Libya and the neighbouring countries
27 May 2011 ... Dehiba, Remada (Tataouine Governorate) More than 57,000 Libyan refugees have fled to Tunisia through this crossing. In the past days, an average of 500 Libyans crossed the Dehiba border point per day. ...... -
Q&A: UN Volunteer helps needy Libyan Berbers in Tunisian camp
23 May 2011 ... Men have driven their wives, children and old folks to the Dehiba border crossing before returning to defend their homes. While many of the Libyans were able to find Tunisian families to host them, ......