High Commissioner visits Tunisia, to continue to Iran
Briefing Notes, 2 September 2008
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 2 September 2008, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
High Commissioner António Guterres arrived in Tunis yesterday evening (Monday) for a two-day visit at the invitation of the Government of Tunisia. His mission is aimed at strengthening cooperation between UNHCR and Tunisia, and at reinforcing UNHCR's presence in the country through the establishment of a full-fledged representation. Mr. Guterres will meet with the President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, the Minister of National Defense and other senior government officials as well as the UN Country Team, UNHCR partners and staff. Upon request of the Tunisian government, UNHCR started its operation in the country in 1957 to assist several thousand Algerian refugees who had arrived in the country. Since 1963, UNHCR has maintained an Honorary Representation in Tunis.
On Thursday, Mr. Guterres will begin a visit to Iran, his second since being appointed High Commissioner in mid-2005. During his Sept. 4-7 mission, he is scheduled to meet the newly appointed Minister of the Interior and to discuss with him and other Iranian officials the future of refugees in Iran and UNHCR's mandate in the country. He will also see UNHCR's Iran operations and meet with refugee representatives.
António Guterres, who joined UNHCR on June 15, 2005, is the UN refugee agency's 10th High Commissioner.
Crush at the Tunisian border
At the Tunisia-Libya border, a heaving crush of thousands of people anxious to leave the insecurity of Libya gathered in no-man's land and on the Libyan side of the border on 2 March, 2011. Most were young men, principally migrant workers from Tunisia and Egypt. They were desperate to go home or find shelter and safety in Tunisia. After several nights sleeping out in the open, many were exhausted and hungry. As the crowd surged towards the border gate, several people were injured. The Tunisian Red Crescent is on hand to provide medical support for all those in need. UNHCR officials were also waiting on the Tunisian side of the border, supporting the Tunisian authorities and aid organizations.
Crush at the Tunisian border
Tunisia's tented transit camp
A new camp full of UNHCR tents, has sprung up close to Tunisia's border with Libya to provide shelter to thousands of migrant workers desperate to get hope. The UNHCR-run facility is already full, with 15,000 people from around Africa and Asia who have fled from Libya.
Most of the new arrivals are penniless and have no hope of making it home on their own. Many of the sub-Saharan Africans arriving at the camp say they fled because of threats and abuse, with some being attacked and robbed in their homes as well as at the checkpoints that have sprung up along many roads in Libya. Non-African arrivals also report having their belongings taken at the checkpoints, but say they have not been the victims of racism and threats.
With people continuing to arrive daily, UNHCR and other agencies are bracing themselves for what could be a large-scale humanitarian disaster if the fighting worsens and if large numbers of Libyans try to flee their country.
Tunisia's tented transit camp
Going home
During the past two weeks, UNHCR has worked with the Tunisian government, Tunisian Red Crescent and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to respond to the dramatic influx of over 90,000 people fleeing the violence in Libya. The majority are migrant workers from Egypt, Tunisia, Bangladesh, China, Thailand and Vietnam. Tens of thousands were flown home following an appeal from UNHCR and IOM to governments to send flights to evacuate them.
Going home
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