Published: 26 February 2011
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is supporting the activities of the Tunisian Red Crescent in helping people escape the violence and unrest in Libya. The Tunisian Red Crescent is welcoming and assisting people arriving in Tunisia through the villages of Ras Ajdir and Dehiba on the Libyan border. The number of arrivals has already reached 25,000 – of which 5,000 are foreign nationals – in five days since last Monday.
The Tunisian Red Crescent is providing basic assistance with shelter, food and psychosocial support. The National Society has also placed its first-aid teams on standby, but fortunately they have not been needed so far. The Red Crescent is also directing people towards the free transport facilities that are being offered by the government’s department of transport and individuals to help people reach their final destination. Foreign nationals receive assistance through their respective embassies.
Exceptional solidarity at the community level, from the people of the region and neighbouring villages has been noticed.
Red Crescent volunteers have found few people to be injured, but confirm that many people are arriving both physically and psychologically exhausted by the nature of their departure from Libya. Red Crescent teams have also observed that more and more women and children are arriving, which has led them to increase the number of volunteers on the ground this weekend.
Volunteers have also offered a family links service to help families get back in touch over the phone. As of today, this service is being strengthened thanks to help from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The Tunisian Red Crescent welcome points have been set up at Tunis-Carthage airport as well as at La Goulette port.
The IFRC has committed human, material and financial resources to strengthen the capacity of the Tunisian Red Crescent in providing more support to new arrivals and to assist a greater number of people at the two border posts.
For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:
Joe Lowry, in Tunis: +216 93 69 90 90
Khameyel Fenniche, in Tunis: +216 20 32 39 94