Fresh account from survivor of boat fleeing Libya
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Melissa Fleming – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Yesterday morning UNHCR staff met with three Oromo Ethiopian men who told us they were among only nine survivors from a boat carrying 72 people that set out from Tripoli on 25 March.
One of them told UNHCR staff that their 12 metre boat destined for Europe was packed to a point that there was barely standing room. The boat ran out of fuel, water and food and drifted for more than two weeks before reaching a beach in Libya.
The refugee said that military vessels twice passed their boat without stopping, and that a military helicopter dropped food and water onto the boat at some point during the journey. The first boat refused their request to board. The second only took photos, he said. The man was not able to identify where the vessels came from.
UNHCR staff met with the three in Shousha camp in Tunisia. One spoke Arabic, while the others spoke Oromo. UNHCR interviewed the Arabic speaker. He said that they paid smugglers US$800 to make the journey. The passengers were expected to operate the boat on their own.
According to the refugee, when water ran out people drank sea water and their own urine. They ate toothpaste. One by one people started to die. He said that they waited for a day or two before dropping the bodies into the sea. There were 20 women and two small children on board. A woman with a two-year-old boy died three days before he died. The refugee described the anguish of the boy after his mother's death.
After arrival on a beach near Zliten, between Tripoli and the Tunisian border, a woman died on the beach from exhaustion. The remaining 10 men walked to the town of Zliten where they were arrested by the Libyan police. They were taken to a hospital and then to a prison where they were given some water, milk and dates. After two days another survivor died.
After begging jail staff to take the remaining survivors back to hospital, they were taken to a hospital in al-Khums city. Doctors and nurses were said to have given the group water and told them to leave. They were returned to the prison and then taken to Twesha jail near Tripoli. Finally Ethiopian friends in Tripoli paid the prison US$900 to release the men. UNHCR is now providing them with assistance in Tunisia.
For further information on this topic, please contact:
- In Tunisia: Helene Caux on mobile: +216 928 27 423 or +41 79 217 31 93
- In Tunisia: Firas Kayal on mobile +216 508 561 99
- In Geneva: Sybella Wilkes on mobile +41 79 557 91 38
- In Geneva: Melissa Fleming on number +41 22 739 91 22
Related 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
First UNITY Cup shows the power of football to connect refugees and hosts
Repaired Benghazi home brings comfort after loss and displacement
Libya: Returning Home in Dignity
Scholarships in Italy allow refugees to dream again
Your search for « oromo » matched 98 results. Displaying page 11 of 11 pages.
-
Adapting to urban displacement: Forced Migration Review, Issue 34
Feb 2010 ... ... In 2008 over 50,000 Somalis arrived in Yemen – a 70% increase from 2007 – as increasing numbers flee conflict between the government of Ethiopia and Oromo insurgents. The Yemeni public generally ...... -
Culture, context and mental health of Somali refugees: a primer for staff working in mental health and psychosocial support programmes
2016 ... ... J Trauma Stress. 2006;19(4):547–51. 108. Halcón LL, Robertson CL, Savik K, Johnson DR, Spring MA, Butcher J, et al. Trauma and coping in Somali and Oromo refugee youth. J Adolesc Health. ...... -
UNHCR Fonds 11 Series 2: File List - Refugee Situations (100.GEN.AFG-121.SEA)
26 Nov 2009 ... ... [Volume 2] 1975/1984 11.02.BOX.0223 101.30 Policy on Liberation Movements - Relations with OLF (Oromo Liberation Front) 1978/1984 11.02.BOX.0234 101.31 Policy on Liberation Movements - Relations with ...... -
Culture, context and mental health and psychosocial well-being of refugees and internally displaced persons from South Sudan
14 Feb 2023 ... ... Cluster random sampling (n=487), of adult refugees (which 65% South Sudanese) in Kalobeyei settlement, Kenya English, Arabic, Swahili, Turkana, Oromo, Lotuko, and Anyuak; 32% (CVTQ) Peters & Golden ...... -
Summary update of Machel study follow-up activities in 2001-2002
1 Dec 2003 ... ... Sexual exploitation, abuse and violence To UNHCR's knowledge child-specific persecution has been hardly ever claimed, but one exception was the case of a 14 month old Oromo child from Ethiopia who was ...... -
Operational Protection in Camps and Settlements: A Reference Guide of Good Practices in the Protection of Refugees and Other Persons of Concern
1 Jun 2006 ... ... and blood type. • A joint plan has been prepared to register some 800 later arriving Ethiopian Oromo refugees. • Negotiations ongoing between UNHCR and NSCRA concerning: 1. Registration of ...... -
Fifteen Years of DAFI - An Impact and Evaluation Study
5 Jan 2016 ... ... The refugee population in Yemen consists largely of Sudanese, Somali, Oromo Ethiopian, Iraqi, Eritrean, and Palestinian refugees. b) The arrival of Somali refugees was prompted by the civil war there, ...... -
SCN Nutrition Policy Paper No. 21: WHO, UNICEF, and SCN Informal Consultation on Community-Based Management of Severe Malnutrition Management of Severe Malnutrition in Children
1 Jan 2006 ... ... Action contre la Faim 4 rue Niepce 75014 Paris France Tel: 33-(0)-43-35 88 15 Fax: 33-(0)-1-43-35-88-00 E-mail: [email protected] Dr. Zenebeche Yadete Oromiyo Regional MOH Ethiopia Dr. ......