IOM Evacuation of Foreigners Fleeing Libya Passes 21,000, Agency Appeals for International Funding
As IOM's mass evacuation of foreign migrant workers from countries
neighbouring Libya passes 21,000, the agency has warned that it
could face a funding crunch unless more international donors step
forward.
A quarter of a million people have now fled Libya since the
insurgency to topple the regime began in late February.
"About 6,000 people a day are still crossing into Tunisia and
Egypt. If the majority continue to be Bangladeshis needing long
haul charter flights to get home, the cost to repatriate them will
far exceed our current resources," says IOM Director of Operations
Mohammed Abdiker.
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"If IOM doesn't receive more funding immediately, we will have
to wind down the evacuation flights from Tunisia and Egypt, with
grave consequences for migrants stranded in both countries," he
adds.
IOM has appealed for USD 49.2 million dollars to assist in the
evacuation of up to 65,000 migrants caught up in the Libyan crisis,
including groups still inside the country.
To date it has received funds, pledges and in-kind donations
totaling USD 27 million from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada,
France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway,
Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The
UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the European
Commission Humanitarian Aid Department have also made major
contributions.
In addition to covering the cost of travel for often destitute,
stranded migrant workers, mainly from Asia and sub-Saharan Africa,
the funding also covers humanitarian assistance including food,
water, shelter, medical care and medical travel assistance to
migrants who have fled Libya.
A concerted effort by governments and organizations such as IOM
and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has already
organized over 120 evacuation flights to reduce pressure on
countries hosting thousands of increasingly frustrated migrants
stranded at Libya's borders.
More than 20,000 migrants are still awaiting evacuation at the
Tunisian and Egyptian borders alone with others in need of
evacuation assistance in Algeria.
For more information please contact:
In Ras Adjir/Djerba, Tunisia,
Jumbe Omari Jumbe
Tel: +41 79 812 7734
E-mail:
"mailto:jjumbe@iom.int">jjumbe@iom.int
In Cairo, Egypt,
Roberto Pitea
Tel: +201.2312.5886
E-mail:
"mailto:rpitea@iom.int">rpitea@iom.int
In Geneva, Switzerland,
Jemini Pandya
Tel: +41 22 717 9486
+41 79 217 3374
E-mail:
"mailto:jpandya@iom.int">jpandya@iom.int
or
Jean Philippe Chauzy
Tel: + 41792854366