TUNISIA / EVACUATIONS

A rapid response from the international community to a joint UNHCR-International Organization for Migration appeal earlier this week has helped move 10,000 people home from the border between Tunisia and Libya. UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:17
• Production Date: 4 March 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
• Geographic Subject: LIBYA; TUNISIA
• MAMS Id: U110304c

Description

STORY: TUNISIA / EVACUATIONS
SOURCE: UNHCR
TRT: 1.17
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 3 MARCH 2011, DJERBA AIRPORT, TUNISIA

Shotlist

1. Various shots, people arriving and lining up at the Djerba airport
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Husam Nino, Operation Officer OIM:
“The situation of these people is difficult. We are trying our best to assist them, to provide flights to their home country. Today we have assisted around 4,200 passengers and there are still more to go.”
3. Pan right, piles of bags and people sleeping on bags
4. Pan left, Vietnamese men
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Danilo Belen, Refugee from the Philippines:
“We have not food and water conditions in Libya so we decided to go there in Tunis.”
6. Med shot, man shaving
7. Wide shot, families lined up
8. Wide shot, people walking in the airport terminal
9. Wide shot, supplies on the tarmac with planes in the background

Storyline

A rapid response from the international community to a joint UNHCR-International Organization for Migration appeal earlier this week has helped move 10,000 people home from the border between Tunisia and Libya.

Countries from around the world, including Egypt, Tunisia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom have offered air or sea transport to ease the crisis. More than 75 flights have departed since Thursday morning carrying migrants fleeing the violence and uncertainty of Libya.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has voiced deep concern that the security situation in Libya may be preventing thousands of people, mainly migrant workers, from fleeing to Tunisia, noting that the border on the Libyan side is now manned by heavily armed pro-Qadhafi forces.

SOUNDBITE (English) Husam Nino, Operation Officer OIM:
“The situation of these people is difficult. We are trying our best to assist them, to provide flights to their home country. Today we have assisted around 4,200 passengers and there are still more to go.”

Around 12,500 people still need evacuation from Tunisia, more than 10,000 of them from Bangladesh. At least two flights are planned to Bangladesh today. The last to leave are those from the most distant countries, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam or the Philippines.

SOUNDBITE (English) Danilo Belen, Refugee from the Philippines:
“We have not food and water conditions in Libya so we decided to go there in Tunis.”

Meanwhile, more people continue to arrive at the Djerba airport with their belongings in tow.

The same aircraft shipping people out are ferrying in fresh emergency supplies to accommodate those fleeing the upheaval.

Since Libyan leader Muammar Al-Qadhafi, under investigation by the International Criminal Court with some of his sons and other top leaders for possible crimes against humanity, started the violent repression of peaceful civilians demanding his ouster, nearly 100,000 people, many of them migrant workers, have fled to Tunisia, and a similar number to Egypt.