Libyan–Tunisian border: Red Cross Red Crescent pushes on through the chaos

Katherine Roux in Tunisia

At 6pm heavy rain began to fall as the sun set on the Tunisian border village of Ras Jdir. Scattered along the desert landscape were thousands of refugees that had crossed over from Libya. While more continued to arrive throughout the evening, approximately 6,000 migrants reportedly passed through the border today alone.

The Tunisian authorities have had to put in force higher entry restrictions because the border and military camp located 5 kilometers down the road have reached saturation point.

Initially, the refugees consisted largely of Tunisian nationals who were able to be processed relatively quickly. Other groups, such as the Chinese, South Koreans and Philipinos, have been largely cared for by their respective governments.

However, as the number of Egyptians coming through has continued to rise, and it is logistically more complicated to get them back home, “it has resulted in a back-up of migrants at the border,” explains Mahfoud Bessah, the IFRC’s program coordinator. “It is critical that the flow of Egyptian migrants continues,” he adds.

The IFRC, together with Tunisian Red Crescent and local authorities, estimates that from February 20 until today, nearly 82,000 migrants have arrived in Tunisia.

Clearly, the humanitarian response efforts have affected everyone – from the Tunisian Red Crescent to the local community of Ben Guerdane and the Tunisian authorities. “All our public buildings are being used to host transiting refugees, our children need to return to school; the shops are empty for the local population. Everyone is affected in some way or other,” says Mr Ali El Kadiri, the Secretary General of the Tunisian Red Crescent’s Ben Guerdane branch.

As they smile wearily, the faces of Tunisian Red Crescent volunteers show signs of exhaustion after working in Ras Jdir for more than a week. Yet their determination and commitment clearly does not waver. The Red Crescent volunteers continue to push the limits of their capacity, providing critical first aid and emergency health support as refugees take their first steps on Tunisian soil.

In order to provide support to local partners, the IFRC deployed a FACT assessment team on 1 March. A logistics emergency response unit has been requested and should arrive in the next 48 hours. Sanitation needs have also been assessed and capacities for toilets are being given priority.  The ERUs that have been deployed will significantly reinforce the humanitarian response.
 
But with the thousands upon thousands of refugees waiting just on the other side of the Tunisian border, it is clear that despite the best efforts of everyone involved, the situation could turn at any point into a serious humanitarian crisis.

Canadians who wish to support Red Cross Red Crescent efforts in the Middle East North Africa region can make a donation online, at their local Red Cross office or by calling 1-800-418-1111. Please earmark donations “Middle East/North Africa Crisis”.

Posted:  March 3, 2011